In terms of popularity and recognition, cricket, or the “Gentleman’s Game,” stands second only to football. Besides watching cricket matches and tournaments, hardcore fans love indulging in more immersive activities, such as fantasy cricket.
Fantasy cricket requires players to build teams comprising real-life players and predict the outcomes of matches. But, there are specific fantasy cricket tips individuals need to keep in mind to ensure victory.
For instance, players need to research properly before matches, pick the right captain and vice-captain, etc.
Similar to how indulging in fantasy cricket requires players to learn some things and follow tips, playing cricket in real life also requires individuals to learn about all three aspects of cricket, namely batting, bowling and fielding.
This article will shed light on different types of cricket shots every aspiring batsman should learn and master to perform well in matches. Let us begin:
Top 6 Different Types of Cricket Shots
Back Foot Defense
The backfoot defense is one of the most popular shots batsmen play when they wish to face a dot ball or have no intentions of taking a run. In this shot, the batsman transfers all of their weight onto their back foot and stands tall to block the ball.
This type of shot is generally played when a bowler bowls good or short-length deliveries.
The backfoot defense shot comes in handy when the batsman wishes to save his wicket at any cost. Hence, professional players commonly use the shot in test matches and ODIs.
When a player executes this shot, the ball does not travel more than 20 yards. Thus, a well-executed backfoot defense leaves no chance for the bowling side to claim the batsman’s wicket.
On Drive
The long-on area on a cricket field is a great region for scoring runs, which is why every aspiring batsman should be familiar with the on-drive shot. A batsman generally plays this shot when their bat is facing toward the long-on region.
This shot is generally played by the batsman for scoring singles or doubles quickly.
Players choose to use the on-drive for full or good-length balls, as both provide batsmen with enough space to execute the shot properly.
The aggressive shot is perfect for individuals who wish to consistently put up a score on the board by running between the wickets. Moreover, since it is a grounded shot, the chances of the batsman getting out are very low if played properly.
Cover Drive
Considered to be one of the most elegant shots of all time, the cover drive is perfect for scoring runs by driving the ball through the covers. To play a cover drive, batsmen need to point their bats toward the cover region, get on their front foot and execute it. This shot is perfect for full-length or good-length deliveries.
The most ideal situation to play the cover drive is when the ball travels inwards toward the outside off-stump line. The lofted cover drive is a popular extension of the shot, and as its name suggests, it facilitates batsmen to hit the ball over the covers.
Professional batsmen mostly play this shot in short-format matches. However, this shot is a bit difficult to execute properly, and thus, it requires immense practice.
Cut Shot
A versatile batsman should know how to score runs in every region, including tough ones like the third-man region. The cut shot facilitates players to score runs in the third-man regions.
Players need to step into the back foot and hit the ball with brute force to execute this shot. But, while playing the shot, every batsman should ensure that they loosen their arms since the shot requires proper movement of arms.
The cut short is perfect for back or short-length deliveries. The cut shot is further classified into three subcategories, namely the square cut, the uppercut, and the late cut.
To execute any of the three shots properly, batsmen need to position their bats vertically. In professional matches, the cut shot comes in very handy during power plays.
Hook Shot
Certain shots in cricket are very risky to play. However, if played properly, they can bring in ample runs. The hook shot is one of them. The hook shot is the go-to choice of batsmen when bowlers bowl head-high bouncers.
The shot is generally played when the batsman is in an aggressive mood and looking to score boundaries.
To play the shot, batsmen must go on their back foot and hit the ball with a horizontally-placed bat. As evident, the timing of batsmen when playing the shot should be impeccable to execute it properly.
The hook shot is highly risky to play since it holds the potential to injure the batsman seriously. Hence, aspiring batsmen should practice the shot properly before trying it in actual matches.
Sweep Shot
The sweep shot is another classy cricket shot that is fascinating to look at. In professional matches, batsmen mostly play this shot against spinners since they bowl slower deliveries. The sweep shot is perfect for playing full-length balls.
To execute this shot, batsmen need to sit on one knee and move the bat towards the leg side. Even though the shot is perfect to execute against spinners, players nowadays also use it against pacers. Batsmen can either play a grounded sweep shot or a lofted one per their preferences.
Becoming a batsman requires both theoretical knowledges as well as physical practice. Any individual who wishes to become a full-fledged batsman should learn and practice the aforementioned to get the job done easily.
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