by Datrim Ray
(Pune, India)
Shiv Chanderpaul: Unorthodox Batting Stance . photo Getty Images
Hello Sir, I am Datrim from Pune and I have adopted an open stance as it makes me feel steady and still in the crease.
Any ball on my pads is easy for me to flick with ease through the leg side, the only problem is when I look to play drives through the off side. I come around the line of the ball and don’t really get to the pitch of the ball.
Can you give some suggestions to help me play up through the off side?
Hi Datrim, your stance may feel comfortable but it is going to limit your run scoring to the leg side and cutting and pulling balls which are close to you.
Your body alignment is off line, think of it this way, the ball travels in a straight line from the bowlers hand to you.
As you stand now, chest on, you can’t swing your bat through a straight line from one set of stumps to the other because the blade swing is from point to midwicket.
Bearing in mind 90 % of all deliveries are going to be pitched up and coming straight toward you, you are going to need to play the ball back up the wicket off the front foot.
I’m not sure what prompted the move to standing front on, perhaps Shiv Chanderpaul.
The misleading thing about Chanderpaul is that at the moment of ball release he moves into a classically side on position, which allows him to play orthodox cricket shots through 360 degrees of the field.
I would propose moving back to a side on stance so you can move into position to hit the ball up the wicket and through the off side. Your bat swing will now be from one set of stumps to the other in a straight line.
Sachin is a fine role model for a stance, as is Virat Kohli, who impresses me the more I see him.
The key is to keep your head still in your stance, this allows you to focus clearly, judge the flight of the ball accurately and move automatically into position for the stroke.
I hope this helps, kind regards Coach
About Richard Pybus
I'm Richard Pybus, I've coached Pakistan, Bangladesh, Middlesex, Titans and the Cape Cobras in South Africa and the goal of this site is to help you to play winning cricket.