Cricket is a sport in which two teams of 11 players each use a bat to hit a ball and to score runs. Games can last from one afternoon to the duration of several days. The bat is made from willow, and it is flat on one side and humped on the other. It is attached to a cane handle. Batters can make defensive or offensive shots.
Balance
Being well-balanced is the most important aspect of batting. Knees need to be slightly bent and relaxed, and the weight should be on the balls of the feet, which are shoulder-width apart. The toes and knees need to line straight down the wicket. It's also important for the batter's eyes to be level so he can watch the ball carefully without losing focus.
High Backlift
The forward defensive stroke is the most important batting stroke in cricket, albeit considered to be the most boring. In essence, the batter is putting the bat in the way of the ball and allowing the ball to strike the bat, but the batter must bring the bat down onto the ball with his top hand in control. The goal is to stop the ball and quickly drop it to the pitch in front of the batter. To make this shot successfully, the batter needs to have a high backlift. To achieve this position, his top hand pushes the bat up and straight back. The toe of his bat needs to be higher than his hands, and his hands need to be above the waist. Not having a high backlift can result in the batter hitting the ball into the air, which defeats the purpose of this defensive stroke.
Foot Position
The backward defensive stroke can be tricky because batters need to move backward instead of forward, which is the natural tendency. It's important for the batter to have his head level and in line with the ball with his weight slightly forward. He moves the rear foot backward and across so it lands parallel with the crease and brings the front foot alongside the rear foot to maintain a side-on position. The batter does not want to take this shot with his chest facing the bowler, which will happen if he just moves straight back. The batter can tell if his position is incorrect if he has to bring his bat down and around his body to hit the ball. He needs to check his toe position--the most common mistake with this stroke is opening up while stepping back so the toes are pointing down the pitch instead of being parallel to the crease.
Followthrough
When utilizing an attacking batting stroke to make a drive, the correct followthrough is crucial. With a drive, the ball is supposed to travel quickly along the ground. The batter needs to finish the hit with the bat handle pointing in the same direction as the ball goes and the left elbow high. A batter who hits the ball into the air when he drives needs to change his stance so his head is positioned over the ball and he's not playing the shot with his weight leaning back, which is a common mistake.
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