Simon Hughes
Maintaining momentum is crucial for middle order batsmen but it is not always a straightforward task, especially when second-string bowlers may be on and the field has been set to thwart the batsmen's favourite shots. Brute power, excellent timing and good placement of shots are needed to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
 Pushed drive
This is a pushed drive - note the higher bounce of the ball than in the regular off-drive. Graham Thorpe (left) drills the ball back past the bowler. The ball is hit higher off the ground than the normal off-drive, and because of that it's harder to keep down and can really only be played on flat wickets.
 Full-blooded drive
This is a real full-blooded drive 'on the up', possible because the ball was a decent length but quite wide. Atherton's thrash 'on the up' to a widish ball from Nixon McClean (left) is a collector's item. It is rare enough that a West Indian fast bowler offers a morsel this tasty, but Atherton even more rarely accepts the bait.
Hitting 'on the up'
If the bowling is of a consistent length some balls might have to be hit 'on the up'. This is a drive to a ball that has pitched about four yards in front of the batsman, which is hit when the ball is almost at the top of its bounce, i.e. on the (way) up.
Copyright material reproduced under license from Macmillan Publishers Ltd. London, England
Copyright © Simon Hughes 2001
Click for full terms and conditions
|
