Simon Hughes
There is a lot of confusion between the pull and the hook. Although they look quite similar, the basic difference is that the pull is played
to a ball around waist height, the hook to a higher one at shoulder
or head height, usually a bouncer. The hook is a harder shot to
keep down (and safe) than the pull. Both shots have the effect of
irritating the bowler and his response is likely to be venemous.
The most dramatic of all the back-foot shots (and therefore the most risky) is the 'hook'. Despite the dangers, some batsmen are
compulsive hookers. As soon as they see the ball banged in very short they can't resist having a go at it. Nasser Hussain is one of these compulsives. Despite the fact that England are 1-1, he's still prepared to take on Walsh's bouncer (below). It's too early in his innings, the ball is still hard and new and aimed straight at his head. He can't get out of the way in time, and he takes a nasty crack on the head.
 Clang!
Hussain (left) is hit on the helmet by a Courtney Walsh bouncer.
However, a bit later in the same innings a bouncer from Franklyn Rose wasn't quite so well directed. Veering down the leg side it
doesn't lift as much either. Hussain (below) gets inside it and latches onto it well, watching it all the way onto the bat, and then off it to
the square leg boundary.
 Thwack!
Hussain latches on to a Rose bouncer later in his innings.
Copyright material reproduced under license from Macmillan Publishers Ltd. London, England
Copyright © Simon Hughes 2001
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