Simon Hughes
Another option for batsmen trying to pierce a well set, defensive field is to angle the ball into the gaps. The technique of 'opening the face', which can cause an early-order batsman's downfall (because the new ball deviates more and is liable to catch the edge), can be valuable at this stage to manoeuvre the ball around.
Brian Lara is brilliant at this. With his Babe Ruth backlift, he generates exceptional bat speed, and then with flexible wrists, the bat face turns on the point of contact and carves the ball into space. A strong bottom (lower) hand helps guide the ball in the desired direction. It might look dangerous, presenting only half a bat to the ball, but the best players turn the wrist so late (almost as the ball is on the bat face) there is very little risk. Also, in Lara's case he hits the ball with such ferocity that even an edge takes some catching.
 Getting ready
This is the key to Lara's great power - no other batsman lifts his bat so high. But getting the bat this high means he also has to be exceptionally quick.
 Precise steering
Despite minimal footwork, Lara's bat is right on line and, with a late turn of the wrists, he guides the ball into a gap.
 Stealing runs
Lara's exceptional ability extends to manufacturing runs off good balls -this one was straight and bouncy, but he still glided it away from the field.
Copyright material reproduced under license from Macmillan Publishers Ltd. London, England
Copyright © Simon Hughes 2001
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