Masterclass: The Significance of Balance in Batting

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Balance is a critical skill for successful stroke execution

The aim of a batsman is to score as many runs as possible as quickly as possible in order to provide their team with the runs to set a total to allow the team’s bowlers with the maximum amount of time in which to dismiss the other team or to chase the opposition team’s score.

In order to achieve this aim, a critical skill that a batsman must master is to understand the characteristics of the ball (line and length) and then to play the best possible stroke in response.

How does the batsman obtain the information about the ball? The batsman watches the ball out of the bowler’s hand to determine its line and length. Consequently, it is fair to say that visual skills play a very significant role in the success of a batsman. If you don’t know where the ball is, how can you play the right stroke in response?

Given the critical importance of visual skills, I would take this opportunity to parallel another daily life application where you need to use visual skills to interpret and understand precise information: reading!

What does your body do when you read? It remains stable. I believe we do this to enable our head to be still to allow our eyes to follow the letters and words on the page. This has a significant implication to batting as, if you agree that your eyes are critical to obtaining the important information when batting, it makes sense that a batsman remains as stable as possible to provide the eyes with the best possible opportunity to sight the ball, just as you do when you read.

This means that a batsman should hit the ball from a stable base. Although footwork is another vital component of batting, your eyes are more important, as your feet cannot see the ball! Your footwork must enable you to get into the best position to see the ball. If your feet are moving when you are trying to hit the ball so are your eyes! You don’t see people running down the street reading books! Additionally, when you have your force stabilised you also allow your power to be channelled through the bat.

Conclusion: A stable or balanced hitting position provides you with the best opportunity to watch and make judgements about the ball and delivers maximum power to the stroke. Balance demonstrates a greater degree of control of the quality of your skill execution. How can you expect to control the ball if you can’t control your own movements?

Good luck

Mark