The Forward Defence How To Play?

When you first start to learn how to play cricket one of the first shots you will learn is the forward defence, it’s a fundamental shot which is the foundation of your batting and should be mastered to help reach you potential, as you can’t score runs when you are out and sat in the pavilion.The forward defence is the best way to

protect your wicket from accurate deliveries which you can’t score off, as you need to remember your primary aim as a batsmen score runs of every delivery if possible.

The forward defence is simply a defensive shot which is played in response to a ball which you can’t score

The Pull Shot.

The pull shot is played with a crossed bat and is an aggressive back footed shot. It should be played to a ball which has been pitched short, on or outside leg stump and will pass over the top of the wickets.

To play the shot, start in your normal batting stance as you would any delivery and play the shot in response to the appropriate delivery, e.g. short and on/outside leg stump.

Take your backswing and step back and across towards your off stump with your back foot and establish this as your base of support. Bring your front foot backwards naturally, ideally keeping it on the ground if possible to help your balance.

Bring the bat down and across the line of the ball, increasing the bat speed into contact with the ball, hit the ball in front of you body (your body needs to be behind the line of the delivery). You are aiming to hit the ball between mid-on and fine leg, between any fielders who may be in the area.