Message Board Archives
The theory of playing against the spin
openning
2016-12-20 15:00:37
Cricket experts are often heard chastising batsmen for playing against the spin. This is always held as dangerous and inadvisable. The right-handed batsman, for example, is encouraged to play the ball turning from off onto the leg-side. Hitting such a delivery back to off is to court danger. And pity the unfortunate batsman who gets out flouting this precept.
To consistently play against the spin is to violate cricketing orthodoxy. Pundits and experts often look askance at batsmen committing this transgression and coaches often berate their charges for doing it.
Have we all been getting in a spin for years over this flawed theory?
Walco
2016-12-20 15:52:01
In reply to openning
I did not read the article in the link, but playing against the spin is risky for a batsman who is not set. Sometimes it's the only way the score runs easily.
Tagwa1
2016-12-21 17:16:06
Read the article. The theory playing against the spin has merit and good batsmen have never had problems playing against or with the spin.
But the theory has merit.
In soccer to kick a shot against a spinning ball you cover the ball against where its spinning to. Same in Table tennis, against top spin, you cover and smash, against a chop you apply top spin to lift up, the opposite spin.
Most multiple sport players are usually good players of spin because they bring that knowledge. Maurice Foster for example was a very good player against spin. But he brought his knowledge from Table Tennis.
Besides for any one who played the game..there is nothing sweeter than hitting an off spinner back through cover. It feel right when done well.
There is also a geometric fact. Playing against the spin gives the batsman a broader bat. the full face must face where the ball is coming from. Playing with the spin makes the bat thinner by definition.
Ex,,,Try sliding an off spinner to square leg. Thinner face needed.
Playing against the spin theory may have lasted long because especially for leg spinners bowling into right handers, there is a line of sight issue. The arms and bat get in the way, a blind spot is created.
So unless you have eyesight as Viv, foot movement as Lara and talent as Sarwan (omg he was poetry in motion hitting against the spin) a right hander hitting against leg spin can be a guessy game. Very different for a right hander playing an off spinner.
Halliwell
2016-12-21 17:22:49
In reply to Tagwa1
That is such a good post! Not often you get pure cricket playing threads and posts like that. Thank you.
Once you cover the spin and are balanced, you're alright.you also have an advantage over the opposition that will set a conventional field to you
camos
2016-12-23 21:49:02
In reply to Halliwell
you also have an advantage over the opposition that will set a conventional field to you
I see that as the biggest advantage but bowlers are countering by hiding the direction of the spin.
Halliwell
2016-12-23 22:10:30
In reply to camos
Hardly face anything that beguiling beyond the premier division of most counties
spider
2016-12-24 08:04:40
In reply to Walco
I did not read the article in the link, but playing against the spin is risky for a batsman who is not set. Sometimes it's the only way the score runs easily.
Shouldn't you at least read the article first? What if it makes sense and cause you to reconsider you're opinion?
Tagwa1
2016-12-24 10:11:52
And it does make good reading to boot.
spider
2016-12-24 14:29:26
In reply to Tagwa1
I agree.
Ewart
2016-12-24 14:57:08
In reply to Tagwa1
Playing against the spin gives the batsman a broader bat. the full face must face where the ball is coming from.
Solid!
//
Fivestar
2016-12-28 01:12:48
In reply to openning
One of the interesting things about cricket is how great batsmen dismiss tradition and focus on scoring runs. There was a time when the traditionalists said you should play straight. Then Viv Richards came along and started hitting balls pitched on off stump through mid-wicket for four. The game of cricket keeps evolving and the great batsmen always search for new ways to score runs.
tc1
2016-12-28 09:47:46
In reply to Fivestar
It was said Everton Weekes did it, when the aussie placed a pack offside field.
