Cricket - getting batting cleared up

MANY ASPECTS OF CRICKET: The game of cricket brings joy and happiness to many players and fans alike around the world. The game has spread around the world and many countries play the game at the highest level - that's Test match level.

The game has spread throughout the globe. It has been a money spinner to many countries who devote their time towards the game and also spend money to learn the finer points of the game. There are many aspects of the game - bowling, batting and fielding where the players can concentrate on.

The youngest of the 'crowd' - Amateurs - of the crowd - the endangered species have fast disappeared with the game taking on a money - making approach.

Batting has become the favourite of the players.

The Agricultural shot: The batsman usually has to stand with the feet wide apart. Then hold the bat high like a double-bladed axe. Close the eyes then swing swing. This shot is very effective in one-day cricket.

The all-rounder: He can bat, bowl, field a bit and in a case of dire emergency probably even make a fast living.

The Back foot: A lot of runs are scored off the back foot by the batsmen. The batsmen can get a fine grasp of this stroke and collect their runs and keep their side on the offensive.

The Hook shot: The ball usually advances towards the batsman very fast and if you don't 'duck' it will get straight between your eyes. The alternative is the hook. You should swing the bat across your shoulders in a splendid horizontal are. It is tricky stuff, so easy to get an edge, so easy to offer a catch. With a little bit of luck the ball either goes over the fence or it hits one of those advertising signs as it has been shot there.

Cutters: Bowling cutters are easy. You have to grip the ball with the seam between the index and middle fingers. Then just when you let the ball go yon simply pull your fingers across the top of the seam, which makes it turn the moment it hits the pitch.

Certain bowlers can naturally bowl good out-swing while others have a natural in-swing. If someone is found who can bowl both out-swing and in-swing, they are gold dust.

A right-hand away-swing bowler has a classic side - on action with a good wrist position; directly behind the ball at release.

The shire is on the leg side (for a right-handed batsman), with the seam angled towards first slip. As the ball is released your hand sliders down the side of the ball towards fine leg.

When bowling out-swing, the bowler should keep the wrist firm and behind the ball for as long as possible - like an off-spinner; in bat, when on 'offie' tries to ball seams, he often has a good wrist position for out-swing.

Conditions necessary for swing

There are many theories about what conditions are best for making the ball swing. Some say it moves when it's hurried, some say it won't swing if it's below 10C.

Others suggest trees around the ground help. There is a little bit of truth in the ideas, but these are no hard and fast rules.

Sometimes movement in the air is down to the pitch. Ideally you want the ball to swing, then swing more once it has bounced.

Taking one ground - Old Trafford the ball might swing a little but then it grips on the dry abrasive wicket. That grip can scramble the seam or make the ball check and straighten. You need a pitch where the ball zips off the surface and continues on its natural, curving, path after the bounce.

Finding variation

If the bowler is swinging the ball one way consistently out can't bowl a delivery that moves in the opposite direction, try holding the ball differently so it doesn't more at all.

If the batsman plays out-swing, then faces are that goes straight on, that is almost as goof as an in-swinger.

Try to make the ball not come out perfectly, so it doesn't swing - that's your variation. Turn the ball around to hold it slightly across the seam, or grip a touch differently and see what happens. The bowler should go to the nets and try different things out, find something that works and stick with it - but don't introduce new things into a game without practice first. Making the ball not swing is almost as important making it swing.

New-ball bowling

When bowling with the new ball, it can be different to control the movement. Usually sometimes the ball that is used will more about.

It is strange that new balls move, because both sides are shiny - that is no difference between them. The seam and wrist positions create the swing: the seam acts as a rudder. It is not always true that one side has to be shiny and the other rough.

- ACdeS