12. The batting match - A Batsman's perspective

The Batting Order

When a team goes out to bat, the best players bat first. The # 1,2,3,4 batsmen are known as the top order. # 5,6,7 form the middle order and # 8,9,10,11 are the lower order or tail. At any given time there are always two batsmen on the field.

The first 2 batsmen are called the openers. The first 2 are supposed to play a quick innings (more runs in less balls). 3,4,5 are players capable of playing an anchor role. Usually the best batsman of the team is put at # 3 or 4. This is usually done to protect him from an early bowling strike.

However the line-up is flexible and it can be changed as the scenario of the game demands it. At # 3, a lower order batsman can come and pinch-hit (more runs in less balls) to score quick runs and shield better players, as his wicket (he as a batsman) is anyway not worth much. There are no restrictions as to the batting position. The best batsmen of a team bat at the top of the order, so as to score more runs.

The lower order consists of the bowlers of the team. They are not known for their batting prowess and so bat as low as possible.

Scoring Runs

Earlier we had discussed the how 4's, 6's were hit. However it may not always be possible to score these big shots. In any match, getting the 1's & 2's are the best way to keep the score moving.

A run is scored when the batsmen exchange ends. Once the ball is bowled to the batsman, he can hit it either between two fielders, or just over the fielder's head, out of his reach.

(Similar to place hitting in baseball)

He can also drop it at just outside the pitch area, and run quickly to the other end before the bowler or the wicketkeeper can get to it.

Like a 'drop shot' in tennis or 'Bunt' in baseball.

Foot-Work

The best way to take the opposition bowling apart is by good footwork. What footwork means is that the batsman moves his as feet close to the spot where the ball [Footwork] is going to be pitched. With this he can free his arms and hit the ball. The advantages are manifold:

He can place the ball well, as he frees his arms.
By moving close to where the ball pitched, the batsman negates the turn or swing a bowler gets after pitching.
The only disadvantage of moving toward the ball is, if you miss the ball, you can get out stumped.

To play a shot, you can play it on the front foot, or back foot. Front foot shots make it easier to play on the on-side, while back foot makes it easier to hit on the off-side.

Rotation of Strike

The key to batting is the Rotation of Strike. While batting, it is important that both batsmen face the ball by alternating the strike between them. After they run a single (1 run), the other batsman faces the bowling. If the batsman has difficulty in rotating the strike and also not scoring boundaries; means that the bowler is bowling to your weaknesses. He also deprives the other (non striking) batsman from scoring, and this could be frustrating for him.

By rotation of strike, the bowlers are not allowed to settle down into a fixed rhythm as, they have to change their line and length, (spoken of earlier) to the batsman at the crease. This is compounded further if there is a right-left hand combination batting. Rotation also keeps the scoreboard ticking. Rotation of strike is the hallmark of good batting.

Personal Score

All runs hit with the bat (or gloves) are credited to the batsman. Each run scored adds to the team total AND his personal score. Extras (discussed earlier, see extras) are directly credited to the team. If a batsman gets above 50, it is good personal score. If he goes on to get a century (also called a ton), it is considered an achievement.

Timing and placement are the key factors for a batter.
By Placement one means, that the ball is hit in such a way that it bisects or trisects 2 or 3 fielders, to reach the boundary.

Timing means that the ball was hit with a minimal amount of force, enough to go to the boundary; the fielders are unable to field the ball, in spite of them chasing the ball up to the boundary.

Over Wise

The general trend in batting during the match is as shown below.

Over wise breakdown of a team's batting strategy
OVERS	WHAT HAPPENS
0 -15	Batsmen have to try and score many runs. The openers have to score quickly. Quick scoring means scoring more 4's and 6's, a few 2's and 3's and scoring of almost every ball faced. This is due to the fact that the first 15 overs have field restrictions that the batsmen can take advantage of. After the openers get out, the next few top order batsmen bat. Usually they bat as the anchor, batting into the last 10 overs.

15-35	In the 16^th to the 35^th over, the top and middle order usually bat. The scoring rate is not as brisk as the first 15, but this is the period where the teams try and conserve wickets and bat at a steady rate.

35-50	In the last 15 overs, as the overs run out, the batsmen try to hit almost all the balls they face either for a 4 or a 6. This is the period where batsmen throw caution into the winds and accelerate the scoring rate as much as possible to get a score as high as possible. The more wickets in hand (batsmen not out), the better chances of a rapid acceleration, as the risk in being bowled out has a minimal effect.

12. Batting game