Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Basic Cricket Batting Strokes

A Cricket Ground is a battle field where 11 people are just trying their level best to take your wicket and what you have is a cricket bat to throw away the ball. This battle between batsman, bowlers and fielders requires techniques & discipline.

In this blog we will be discussing the various traditional batting strokes/shots/techniques used by batsmen in this game. Not only understanding but practicing will help you to get the mastery in these batting techniques. There are verity of cricketing shots to play, most commonly used are listed below.
 
P.C.: Google Images

Traditional Batting Strokes/Shots:              

1) Forward Defense.
2) Back Foot Defense.   
3) Straight Drive.
4) Back Foot Drive.
5) Sweep Shot.
6) Leg Glance.
7) Square Cut.
8) Pull Shot.
9) Hook Shot.

Let’s Learn all of them in little detail:

1) Forward Defense: This shot is commonly played to defend (protect) the stumps from a good    ball. The idea of forward defense is to get forward and smother the ball. This will stop the ball in its tracks. 
P.C.: Google Images
2)Back Foot Defense: This shot is used on a bouncer ball or a good length ball. In this the   batsman transfer his/her weight onto back foot, moving back towards stumps.
P.C.: Googles Images

3) Straight Drive: As the name suggests, the straight drive is a drive straight back past the bowler.
P.C. : Googles Images

4) Back Foot Drive: The back foot drive is an attacking shot which is played to a ball which has pitched short of a good length and which will probably bounce around stump high. You should try to hit the ball between mid on and cover and along the ground.
P.C. Google Images

5) Sweep Shot: Sweeps are played to full length deliveries and usually head behind the square leg umpire. The batsman must keep his balance by having one knee on the floor.
P.C. : Google Images

6) Leg Glance: This shot happens when batsman uses the pace of the ball to score behind the wicket on the leg side.
P.C. : Google Images

7) Square Cut: is a shot hit into the off side at near to 90 degrees from the wicket (towards point).
P.C. : Google Images


8) Pull Shot: The pull shot is a cross-batted stroke played when the ball is short length or bouncer length delivery. 
P.C. : Google Images

9) Hook Shot: Hook shots are like pull shots except that the ball is bouncing higher and is
 played later and further back in the crease.
P.C.: Google Images

  

Friday, December 1, 2017

Difference between English Willow and Kashmir Willow

Whenever anyone plans to buy a cricket bat the question comes which bat to buy English Willow or Kashmir Willow.? Its always better to have a clear understanding of  both the willows,to get the best cricket bat.

In order to get the best value for money,here I have listed down some difference between English Willow and Kashmir Willow so that even a layman could find it easy to understand.

S.No
English Willow(EW)
Kashmir Willow (KW)
1
EW is grown in England specially for manufacturing cricket bats.
KW are grown in the areas of Kashmir .
2
EW is soft in nature this makes the bat light.
KW bats are heavier in nature as compare to EW.
3
EW bats require regular maintenance and care.Because of soft nature of willow, EW needs proper knocking.
KW bats don’t require regular knocking and oiling, thus makes it a low maintenance cricket bat.
4
Experienced players used EW cricket bats, as they provide better strength & performance.
Beginners used KW cricket bats.
5
EW are whiter in color.
KW are brownish in color.
    6
EW are grainier and has clear grains. Normally EW offers 4 to 11 grains based on grade of willow.
KW are less grainy and less clarity in grains.
7
EW bats offers best ping or punch, due to its soft nature of willow.
KW bats offers less ping or punch, as compare to EW bat. This makes a huge difference in their performance, thus makes EW a better choice for professional players.
8
EW bats are costly.
KW are less costly as compare to EW.

English Willow Cricket Bat:

Below is the image of EW cricket bat with clear and straight grains.This bat is having 9 clear straight grains and you can compare the color of the willow with the KW bat's image.


Kashmir Willow Cricket Bat: 

Below is the image of KW cricket bat ,with not much clear and straight grains.You can easily find out the difference in the color of willow.



English Willow Bat :
You can buy English Willow cricket bat from below link:

Kashmir Willow Bat:
You can buy Kashmir Willow Cricket bat from below link