Simon Hughes
Middle-order batting
The batsman in the middle order has to be versatile – able to deal with various possibilities. He might be coming in on an easy pitch to exploit a dominant situation – able to give full reign to forceful stroke play. Equally, he may be fending off marauding bowlers on a minefield of a pitch, hemmed in by close fielders. The middle-order batsmen will be the most fluid stroke players but it goes without saying that in order to be effective their defensive play has to be secure.
 England's Graham Thorpe (left) displays a variety of classic attacking shots.
A Waiting Game
You might assume that looking at the batting order of a team you would start with the best batsman and work your way down. That is not really the case - the best batsmen come in in the middle order. The opening batsmen, who have their own unique abilities, should have taken the venom out of the new ball and the edge off the bowler's aggression allowing the middle-order batsmen to come in and build a score. It is the great batsmen that come in at number 3 or 4, against a ball that has lost its shine, who can make batting look so effortless.
 Taking every chance
Middle-order batsmen, such as Thorpe (left), need to be opportunists, biding their time but prepared to be positive. They will be the players with the dashing strokes and, hopefully, the big averages.
Facing all-comers
Out in the field, with the ball getting older and softer, it is harder to take wickets and so the fielding side will probably go on the defensive. Fielders will be moved back to save runs with a few close fielders kept up just in case. Patience is the key – for batsmen, bowlers and spectators. There is a bit of cat and mouse going on, waiting for someone to make a mistake. Bowling changes will be a bit more frequent, trying to break the batsman's concentration. Batsmen will meet in the middle to talk strategy, observbe that a certain bowler is looking tired or discuss where they're having their dinner tonight.
The batsmen, having got their eye in against the pacemen, will then have to face whatever other bowlers the opposition have up their sleeves – from mainstream spin bowlers to the more unorthodox occasional bowler brought on for an over or two to confuse and confound. Playing spin bowling requires a different approach, and there are some batsmen who find it a difficult skill to acquire. Being nimble on your feet is crucial, getting to the pitch of the ball and perhaps disconcerting the bowler by charging him occasionally.
Copyright material reproduced under license from Macmillan Publishers Ltd. London, England
Copyright © Simon Hughes 2001
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