Batting Shots Explained: Drives, Cuts, Pulls, Sweeps and More
A guide to the main batting shots in cricket, from the defensive block and drive to the cut, pull, hook and sweep, plus modern shots like the ramp and scoop.
A batter has a wide range of shots, and choosing the right one at the right moment is the heart of the craft. Each stroke has a typical length of delivery that it suits, and a typical area of the field that it targets. Knowing the names helps spectators follow commentary and understand why a batter plays one way rather than another.
Defence
The forward defensive and the back-foot defensive are the foundation of batting. The bat is presented with a straight face, with the aim of stopping the ball dead rather than scoring. A solid defence is the base on which an innings is built, especially against a new ball. Leaving the ball well outside off stump is also a skill in itself.
The drive
The drive is the classic attacking shot, played off the front foot to a full-length ball. The bat swings through in a smooth arc, and the direction depends on where the ball is bowled.
- Straight drive: hit back past the bowler, on either side of the stumps.
- Cover drive: played through the off side between point and mid-off, often called the most elegant shot in cricket.
- On drive: played through the leg side between mid-on and midwicket.
- Off drive: played to the area between cover and mid-off.
The cut and the pull
The cut is played off the back foot to a short ball outside off stump. The batter hits it square of the wicket on the off side, either as a square cut or, for a ball that rises higher, an upper cut over the slips.
The pull is played to a short ball that is aimed at the body, with the bat hit across the line and the ball hit towards the leg side in front of square. The hook is similar but plays a higher bouncer, with the ball hit behind square on the leg side. Both shots carry risk, since a top edge can be caught.
Glances, flicks and nudges
The leg glance is a delicate shot in which the bat deflects the ball fine on the leg side using the pace of the delivery. The flick, played off the pads, sends the ball through midwicket. These shots turn good deliveries into singles and boundaries and are essential for a steady run rate.
The sweep
The sweep is played against spin. The batter gets down on one knee and sweeps the ball across the line to the leg side, usually a good way of dealing with a ball that would otherwise be hard to hit. The slog sweep is a more powerful version, played high over midwicket. The reverse sweep, played by changing the grip so that the ball goes to the off side, is a high-risk shot that has become more common in the modern game.
Lofted shots and slogs
In limited-overs cricket, batters often hit the ball in the air over the fielders. The lofted drive is an extension of the drive with a higher follow-through, and the slog is a swing across the line for the leg side, usually played in the closing overs.
Innovative shots
The Twenty20 era has produced new strokes. The scoop, in which the batter flicks the ball over the wicketkeeper’s head, was popularised by Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan, who gave it the name Dilscoop. The ramp plays a fast bowler’s delivery over the keeper. The switch hit, in which the batter changes from right-handed to left-handed or vice versa as the bowler runs in, was made famous by England’s Kevin Pietersen, and the helicopter shot became a trademark of India’s MS Dhoni.
Choosing the shot
Selecting the right shot depends on the length and line of the ball, the field placings, the match situation and the batter’s own strengths. Good players watch the ball closely, decide early and play with a balanced position. Mastering a few shots well is better than attempting every stroke.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cover drive?
It is a front-foot shot played through the off side, between point and mid-off, to a full-length ball outside off stump.
What is the difference between a pull and a hook?
Both are played off the back foot against short balls aimed at the body. The pull usually deals with a ball that bounces lower and goes in front of square, while the hook deals with a higher bouncer and goes behind square.
Who invented the Dilscoop?
Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan popularised the shot, which is named after him, in which the batter scoops the ball over the keeper’s head.