Batting basics for beginners: grip, stance, forward defence and running

TUREFF• •0

Good batting starts with simple foundations: holding the bat properly, standing in a balanced position, blocking the ball safely and running sensibly between the wickets. Get these right and every other shot becomes easier to learn. This guide is written for a right-handed batter; left-handers reverse everything.

Safety first

Always wear the proper protective equipment when facing a hard ball: a helmet, pads, gloves and an abdominal guard, plus a thigh pad as you progress. Start against a softer ball, a bowling machine set slowly, or gentle throw-downs from a coach.

Choosing a bat

A bat that is too heavy or too long ruins technique. Stand the bat beside your leg: the top of the handle should reach roughly to the top of your thigh. You should be able to lift it comfortably with your top hand alone. Ask a coach or a specialist shop to help you choose the size.

The grip

Lay the bat face down on the ground, handle towards you.
Pick it up with both hands close together, near the top of the handle.
The V shapes formed by your thumbs and forefingers should line up roughly between the outside edge and the spine of the bat.
The top hand, the left for a right-hander, controls the bat. The bottom hand should be relaxed, gripping mainly with the thumb and fingers.

A grip that is too tight in the bottom hand makes you push the ball in the air. Keep the hands together so they work as a unit.

The stance

Feet roughly shoulder-width apart, either side of the batting crease, parallel to it.
Knees slightly bent, weight evenly on the balls of the feet.
Head still, level and turned to face the bowler, eyes level.
Front shoulder pointing down the pitch towards the bowler.
Bat resting near the back toe, or held slightly raised as many players now prefer.

Take guard from the umpire at the start of your innings so you know where your stumps are. Common choices are middle stump, leg stump, or middle and leg.

The backlift

As the bowler approaches, lift the bat back towards the stumps rather than out towards the slips. A straight backlift helps you bring the bat down straight, which is the key to keeping the ball out of the air and off the edges.

The forward defence

This is the shot you use against a good-length ball heading for the stumps that you do not want to score from.

Lead with the head. Your head moves towards the line of the ball and drives your movement forward.
Step forward with the front foot, landing close to the line of the ball.
Bend the front knee and keep your weight over it.
Bring the bat down straight, close to the front pad, with the face angled slightly down so the ball goes into the ground.
Keep the top hand in control and the bottom hand soft, so the ball drops dead in front of you.
Hold the finish for a moment, head over the ball.

Practise it with gentle throw-downs until it feels natural. A sound forward defence lets you survive the good balls while waiting for bad ones.

The backward defence

For a short ball heading for the stumps, step back and across with the back foot, staying side-on, and play the ball down under your eyes with a straight bat. Getting back towards the stumps gives you more time.

Running between the wickets

Many runs are gained or lost through running.

Call clearly: yes, no or wait. The batter with the better view calls. Generally the striker calls for shots in front of the wicket and the non-striker for shots behind.
Back up: as the non-striker, stay in your ground until the bowler releases the ball, then move a few steps down the pitch so you are ready to run.
Run the first one hard. A quick first run often makes a second possible.
Ground your bat: slide the bat over the line at the end of each run, holding it out in front to reach the crease sooner.
Turn facing the ball, so you can see where it is before going again.
Run in a straight line, slightly to the side of the pitch so you do not damage it.

Practice tips

Shadow-bat in front of a mirror to check your stance, backlift and straight bat.
Drop-feed or throw-down drills build the forward defence quickly.

Which part of batting are you working on? Share your experience or questions in the comments.