Simon Hughes
In England's recently completed three-Test series in Pakistan, there were over 5,000 'dot' balls (balls not scored off, recorded by a dot in the scorebook). This is the equivalent of 10 days cricket without a run. It sounds tedious, and obviously would be if they were all back to back, but it illustrates the importance of building a Test innings brick by brick. Without a sound defence, you can't do this. Test-class bowling is too good to allow a shot a ball. Even the most fluent batsmen - men like Viv Richards and Brian Lara - need to be able to block the best deliveries.
Leaving the ball
In the first few overs of a Test, an opening batsman would prefer to leave as many balls as possible alone. (The bowler, of course, will try to make him play). This allows him to gauge the behaviour of the pitch, the pace of the bowlers and what sorts of shots are going to be safe. There are many ways of leaving the ball.
Shouldering arms
The most common evasive action is 'shouldering arms' – literally raising the bat to shoulder level to let the ball pass by. The bat is already raised at waist level, or higher, in the backlift, and if the ball is so wide it doesn't demand a shot, the batsman just leaves his bat where it is, rather than bringing it down. It's dangerous to make this decision too early in the ball's flight, though. Twice in one Test Mike Gatting was deceived by Malcolm Marshall's late inswing and, shouldering arms, was lbw offering no shot. There are other ways of avoiding the ball – some more dignified than others (to duck is a natural instinct, but not without its dangers).
Underneath
Shouldering arms to a ball just wide of the stumps (above left) requires good judgement.
Over the top
Early in an innings most batsmen will look to avoid bouncers by getting underneath them (above right). Leaving your bat up can be dangerous though.
Playing inside the line
Recently, a new style of leave has become popular. Here, the batsman brings the bat down away from the ball but still keeps it inside the line of the ball. To use this 'shot' requires great judgement and patience – knowing which balls to leave and which to play. Marcus Trescothick, shown below on the left, proved to be a master of both – in his Test debut against the West Indies he didn't get his first run for nearly an hour, and played a lot of this kind of 'shot'. Nick Knight (one of Trescothick's rivals for a place as an opener) shows less good judgement, being tempted to play at a ball wide of off stump and so risk getting an edge and being caught in the slips.
To play or not to play
Marcus Trescothick (far left) shows a precious ability not to flirt with good balls outside off-stump. Nick Knight (left), however, seems sometimes fatally drawn to them.
 Dropping your hands
Michael Atherton (right) is a skilful exponent of a third method of leaving a ball. If a ball bounces or moves away unexpectedly, he jerks the bat down towards the ground, letting the ball pass over or wide of the bat. Often it looks as if the batsman has actually tried to hit the ball and there are a few 'oohs' from the crowd when the ball whistles past the edge, but actually he's in full control.
Copyright material reproduced under license from Macmillan Publishers Ltd. London, England
Copyright © Simon Hughes 2001
Click for full terms and conditions
|
