Simon Hughes
The best batsmen in the world have the edge over their less talented peers in one other area – their instinctive skill and judgement allows them to delay their response to a ball a split second longer. Mike Atherton is particularly outstanding at playing the ball late, which usually allows him to be in a better position and to play a better shot. While it can sometimes cause his downfall because he is too late on the ball, it saves him on many other occasions.
Here are two virtually identical balls, but Michael Vaughan has planted his front foot down fractionally early. His head leans outside the line, he overbalances slightly as the ball moves in towards the pads and he is out LBW. Atherton delays his footwork momentarily, stays balanced on the crease and, as the ball nips inwards, it comes on to the bat – a piece of phenomenal judgement.
 Michael Vaughan
Although a good defensive player, Vaughan (left) sometimes plants his front foot early and overbalances to the offside if the ball moves inwards.
 Michael Atherton
The fraction of a second longer that Atherton (left) waits before committing himself ensures his weight is going forward rather than across the crease.
Copyright material reproduced under license from Macmillan Publishers Ltd. London, England
Copyright © Simon Hughes 2001
Click for full terms and conditions
|
Click for more articles on Batting or to return to the analyst home page.
|
