Cricket Explained by Robert Eastaway

Author:Robert Eastaway [Eastaway, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group
Published: 2016-03-29T00:00:00+00:00

What are the batsman’s tactics?

The tactics of the batsman are a little less sophisticated simply because he is having to react to the tactics of the bowler. The batsman is not in a position before every ball to say, ‘I’m going to hit this for six’. This is because the bowler may, for example, bowl a yorker which it is not possible to hit for six. The batsman, as he stands out there nervously pacing up and down, twirling his bat, prodding an imaginary divot on the pitch, or whatever else he does to spin out time between deliveries, is developing a general strategy that will evolve through his innings according to the state of the game at any one time.

This might go as follows:

[Early in his innings] I must not get out or I won’t be able to look my mates in the eye. I will defend any straight balls, and leave everything that isn’t going to hit my stumps.

[Ten minutes later] OK, I’m settled now: if there is a bad ball, I will try to hit it through that gap at mid off.

[Thirty minutes later] Ah, they’ve brought on a slow bowler – a chance for me to play a very attacking shot to show who is boss.

[He’s been in for two hours] Right, I’ve scored my fifty. I’m feeling confident so I will start getting more aggressive now.

[Two hours later] I’m knackered. Still, every time I swing my bat I seem to score runs, so I’ll keep going.

Of course, any attempt to put a time against each tactic is an over-simplification. Some batsmen go on the attack right at the beginning. Others seem to be slow and cautious even when they are 150 not out.

The batsman’s tactics may also change at a moment’s notice, in particular:

when he is close to 50 or 100;

when lunch, tea or bed-time (close of play) is fast approaching;

when the man at the other end is out.

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