Be like dancer to defend wicket

With a slow bowler, bat with a centre wicket on the batting crease while dancing to the ball. Many of the batsmen do not get behind the ball. You have to be a dancer while defending the wicket and almost playing an LBW game. Many batsmen get out stretching forward to the slow bowler while not getting behind the ball, and are caught out because the bat is held in the wrong position.

I notice now many batsmen are playing “lawn tennis and gadka”. The bat is held in a parallel position above the ground. Years ago we had a great batsman, but now they cannot bat. The bat should be struck repeatedly on the ground as a timing to execute the shot. It must be used as the drummer who strikes the drum with his foot for timing to play the trap set.

There are many fielders now who cannot catch the ball, and that is shameful for international players. Of course there may be catches that are difficult to take but there are those that should not be missed. When a ball is coming from high above the head, because it could fall out your hands. It should not be taken over the head, but on the chest where it is much safer to squeeze unto the torso to avoid falling through. I do not know how much talk the coach has with his players, but when they go in to bat each batsman should aim at making 20 runs and continue thereon to score highly as each ball must be played on its merit.

There is nothing like reverse swing. I do not know where that inane statement came from. What we have in bowling is “inswinger” and “outswinger”. The ball moving right or left cannot reverse. The movement is done by holding the seam of the ball in the relevant position to execute the movement of the ball when it is bowled on the field of play.

To be successful the batsmen must learn to dance getting behind the ball to execute the strokes to make runs, acquiring high scores to win matches. This should be done whether it be in 10/20 matches, 50/50 or Test matches.

HORACE DESORMEAUX

Maraval