| So you're a budding cricketer who wants to improve | | | | Timing and Strokeplay |
| their batting technique? In order to become good at | | | | Timing is probably the key factor when it comes to |
| something it's always helpful to learn a few tried and | | | | differentiating yourself as a great batsman. If you |
| tested tips. We will be looking at skills that should | | | | have a fast bowler charging down at you and fail to |
| help improve your game. | | | | time properly, the ball can whiz past you in about half |
| Keep your eye on the ball | | | | a second. It is therefore essential that you work on |
| Keeping your eye in the ball at all times helps to | | | | your timing. Just imagine that ball hitting the sweet |
| ensure that you don't get any surprises. The world's | | | | spot of your bat at 95mph? Some people are lucky |
| top batsmen try and play the ball as late as possible | | | | to have raw talent in timing and stroke-play, if you |
| so that they can make use of things such as late | | | | aren't then this is something that should be on top of |
| swing or turn. | | | | your priority list and something that should be |
| Back-lift | | | | worked on all the time. |
| A batsman such as Brian Lara of the West Indies | | | | Posture |
| was renowned for his high back-lift. This meant that | | | | A good posture is instrumental in keeping your body |
| he could get plenty of power into his stroke. | | | | going for years. A bad posture can use up lots of |
| Depending on the type of delivery it may be wise to | | | | energy which could potentially reduce the amount of |
| adjust your back-lift accordingly. | | | | time you spend on the pitch, If you are comfortable |
| Footwork | | | | then you will be more relaxed and focussed on your |
| Footwork is an integral part of being either a good | | | | game. |
| batsman or a world-class batsman. This is because | | | | Practice |
| good footwork means that in some cases you do | | | | All the above are important points that need to be |
| not need so much power for big shots. For example, | | | | addressed. However, without continuous and |
| Pakistani Inzamam Ul-Haq was never renowned for | | | | consistent practice, one cannot improve. It is |
| his running between the wickets but he always | | | | therefore recommended to play as much cricket as |
| managed to hit big shots. This was due partly to his | | | | possible and try and focus on all the elements above. |
| magnificent footwork which saw him hitting huge | | | | Remember that this will not happen overnight, rather |
| boundaries. In addition, from a defensive perspective, | | | | take time so don't forget to enjoy yourself in the |
| it can also help you with your guard. | | | | process. |