technique for a lefthand batsman vs righthand bowler??

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at01

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technique for a lefthand batsman vs righthand bowler??

hi there I hope a cricket coach can maybe give me some advice on batting.
At the moment I am a left hand batsman but I seemed to find it esp difficult to produce good shots partly because
1) I;m a novice
2) most other bowlers are right handed and the ball always falls onto my legside which makes it nearly impossible to hit the ball naturally. the result is that I had been hit by a few bowls in training.
3) I have the ready/prepare stance alright (inc backlift) but when ever the bowler bowls, I have the tendency to swing my bat as if it;s a baseball bat rather than trying to play a defensive game.

Lastly,

Is a heavy bat or a light bat better?
I find light bat more comfortable to use cos I seem to be able to manipulate it easier. :)

thanks!
 
Re: technique for a lefthand batsman vs righthand bowler??

Ill help you out at01,

I am also a left hand batsman who had the same problem when the ball was on my leg growing up. It took me five or so years as I would lose my balance trying to hit it. As i havent seen you in action it is a little tough to tell you exactly what you are doing wrong. But all i can say is get a friend to throw balls in the direction of your legs. Not too hard and you just hit them to get use to it, as the old saying goes practice makes perfect.....

It is alright to have a prepared stance, some of the greats have that. But what you are doing swinging it like a baseball bat is incorrect. The bat should be brought back in a straight arc behind your back. And then followed through ending up over your right shoulder.

Regards to the bat is your personal preference. The bat companies are improving year in and year out on the production of bats. The perfect bat is one that feels light and even weight all over the bat. It is well balanced but still has a lot of meat to it. Some of the best bats that I have used were nearly 3 pound but had the feeling of only a 2.5, just perfect.
 
Re: technique for a lefthand batsman vs righthand bowler??

Guru™;109746 said:
Ill help you out at01,

I am also a left hand batsman who had the same problem when the ball was on my leg growing up. It took me five or so years as I would lose my balance trying to hit it. As i havent seen you in action it is a little tough to tell you exactly what you are doing wrong. But all i can say is get a friend to throw balls in the direction of your legs. Not too hard and you just hit them to get use to it, as the old saying goes practice makes perfect.....

It is alright to have a prepared stance, some of the greats have that. But what you are doing swinging it like a baseball bat is incorrect. The bat should be brought back in a straight arc behind your back. And then followed through ending up over your right shoulder.

Regards to the bat is your personal preference. The bat companies are improving year in and year out on the production of bats. The perfect bat is one that feels light and even weight all over the bat. It is well balanced but still has a lot of meat to it. Some of the best bats that I have used were nearly 3 pound but had the feeling of only a 2.5, just perfect.
Click to expand...



thanks.........
i tried to start with a proper straight arc swing but as time goes by and i fail tohit the balls i feel myself changing to this oddish baseball swing.

the other thing is should i be having quick feet and move my wholeself back so that the ball would end up on my on side rather than on my legside?

cos obviously....... i think i'm supposed to do a sweep shot for this type of situation??
 
Re: technique for a lefthand batsman vs righthand bowler??

Just try and practice with the straight bat, it is the best thing for your batting. If you get in bad habits early, you will struggle to change them later on.

Yes you obviously need quick feet but make sure you arent moving before the ball is bowled. The only movement you could maybe do as the bowler is about to bowl it, maybe just rock back a little on your back foot as it is easier to go forward then go back.

I'm not sure about the last bit.
 
Re: technique for a lefthand batsman vs righthand bowler??

cooool thanks loadzzz
I'll see if the coach can offer me some advice
he'd been telling me that I need patience..........
and I feel as if I HAVE to hit every ball swung at me
 
Re: technique for a lefthand batsman vs righthand bowler??

at01;109385 said:
hi there I hope a cricket coach can maybe give me some advice on batting.
At the moment I am a left hand batsman but I seemed to find it esp difficult to produce good shots partly because
1) I;m a novice
2) most other bowlers are right handed and the ball always falls onto my legside which makes it nearly impossible to hit the ball naturally. the result is that I had been hit by a few bowls in training.
3) I have the ready/prepare stance alright (inc backlift) but when ever the bowler bowls, I have the tendency to swing my bat as if it;s a baseball bat rather than trying to play a defensive game.

Lastly,

Is a heavy bat or a light bat better?
I find light bat more comfortable to use cos I seem to be able to manipulate it easier. :)

thanks!
Click to expand...


Instead of trying to hit the ball hard try simply glancing the ball for a while. It's almost like letting the ball hit the bat instead the bat hitting the ball. Get youself into a forward defencive position and when the ball hits the bat work with the ball and roll the wrists to get the ball going to fine leg.This will straighten up your backlift and teach your top hand to be more dominant. Once you have this downpat you attempt to then begin hitting the ball with some more power. You will then begin hitting the ball squarer. Again once comfortable with this you will be able to drive the ball through mid wkt/mid on.

You need to teach your top hand to direct the bat. You can do this by (before facing a ball) using just your top hand on the bat and take the bat through the back lift and onto a forward defencive position. Keep your arm strong and elbow slightly bent. Hope that helps.

I prefer heavier bats 3lbs although if you are struggling abit with certain shots then use a lighter bat.

Good Luck
 
Re: technique for a lefthand batsman vs righthand bowler??

Skoff;110999 said:
Instead of trying to hit the ball hard try simply glancing the ball for a while. It's almost like letting the ball hit the bat instead the bat hitting the ball. Get youself into a forward defencive position and when the ball hits the bat work with the ball and roll the wrists to get the ball going to fine leg.This will straighten up your backlift and teach your top hand to be more dominant. Once you have this downpat you attempt to then begin hitting the ball with some more power. You will then begin hitting the ball squarer. Again once comfortable with this you will be able to drive the ball through mid wkt/mid on.

You need to teach your top hand to direct the bat. You can do this by (before facing a ball) using just your top hand on the bat and take the bat through the back lift and onto a forward defencive position. Keep your arm strong and elbow slightly bent. Hope that helps.

I prefer heavier bats 3lbs although if you are struggling abit with certain shots then use a lighter bat.

Good Luck
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im a leftie mate also n play at a decent level.....

im an opener the big thing is confidence i know u said your a novice i would just like to know how old u are and what u play on hard wicket or turf ......

im a coach of an under 17 side also i might be able to help u a little if u want to answer these questions first just so i know a little about u before i let any of my secrets out ...........lol
 
Re: technique for a lefthand batsman vs righthand bowler??

weapons05/06;111123 said:
im a leftie mate also n play at a decent level.....

im an opener the big thing is confidence i know u said your a novice i would just like to know how old u are and what u play on hard wicket or turf ......

im a coach of an under 17 side also i might be able to help u a little if u want to answer these questions first just so i know a little about u before i let any of my secrets out ...........lol
Click to expand...

I'm 22 what do u mean by hard wicket or turf? just started last year
 
Re: technique for a lefthand batsman vs righthand bowler??

at01;111167 said:
I'm 22 what do u mean by hard wicket or turf? just started last year
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for starters mate

hard wicket-synthetic-it is a form of material that is put on concrete to make a cricket pitch very even bounce usually use 2 piece balls on it..........

turf-it is a grass bassed wicket usually made by a curator of a cricket club wich would be rolled hard n flat,similar to what u see on tv,4 piece balls are used on it.........

so do u play on a grass pitch or a sythetic pitch?????
even easier what comp do u play in?what grade?1st's 2nd's 3rd's 4th's or 5th's
i will work it out.......

how did u go on the wk/end??????????
 
Re: technique for a lefthand batsman vs righthand bowler??

I agree with Skoff, the first thing you do is start off planting the front foot to be well balanced and trying some glances, will probably get hit on the pads a few times but if starting out I would assume you are playing a lower level and therefore unlikely to be out LBW

I used to struggle with the opposite, left hand bowler to right hand batsman but now I try this way I havent been out to one since, although it takes some getting used to getting hit by the ball a bit more :p
 
Re: technique for a lefthand batsman vs righthand bowler??

I play on turf... I suspect...

or sometimes i play on literally... sand (the bowling/batting stretch), in which I think it's the original ground but without the grass.
 
Re: technique for a lefthand batsman vs righthand bowler??

at01;128174 said:
I play on turf... I suspect...

or sometimes i play on literally... sand (the bowling/batting stretch), in which I think it's the original ground but without the grass.
Click to expand...


yes probably on turf as the wickets these days are a little crap..........

first thing i was told when i was a youngster was to go back and across...
which means in your batting stance your back foot goes back probably to first slip not a big step just a small 1 to get your self into line of ball.........
being a leftie unless theres a left hand bowler the ball goes across u all the time thats the method i employ.........
once your back and across its the length of the delivery if its short your already on the back foot and have got plenty of time........
if its full its all about balance from here from your step back and across all you have to do is step fwd to the line of the ball and keep your bat straight in your backlift and hit through the line along the ground through covers,mid off or point depending on where the ball pitches and 1 thing to remember always keep your top hand on the bat tighter than the bottom 1........
this will keep you in controll of the shot and keep it along the ground.....if u youse your bottom hand on the bat it nine times out of ten would go in the air
and there is a chance you will go out..............

remember you dont have to hit every ball if it is wide leave it alone yes batting is a skil but so is patience be patient hit the balls that are in the areas you like to hit them if they are not let them go............



practice makes perfect if 1 of your teamates at training isnt doing anything even after training get prob about 15 balls and have some throw downs practice all the shots drives,cut shots,pull shots most important your defencive shots back foot, front foot also its not how hard you hit the ballits the timing of your shots.........watch the ball hard and try get it in the middle of your bat.........and the runs will come
 
Re: technique for a lefthand batsman vs righthand bowler??

Thanks for the advice...
I wanted to say though... that if I time the shot there are chances that I mis teim them...
 
Re: technique for a lefthand batsman vs righthand bowler??

at01;130124 said:
Thanks for the advice...
I wanted to say though... that if I time the shot there are chances that I mis teim them...
Click to expand...



yer true it happens to every 1 just gotta get in the nets and keep practicing
 
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