In the not so distant past, it was an oft-repeated adage that "cricket was a sideways game". But as Alastair Cook proved at The Oval, times change. And a more open-minded - and open-faced - stance can sometimes make all the difference.
The visit turned his career - and his stance - around. Palmer argues that a more open stance allows batsmen to play straighter, increase their scoring opportunities and improve their balance. It is, he insists, infinitely preferable to the sideways on stance that can often result in bat movement being inhibited by the presence of the front leg.
It has certainly worked for Cook. He scored two centuries in his next four Tests and, while this innings was the first time he had recorded a score of 50 or more in the first innings of his last 12 Tests, there have been pretty regular second-innings runs.
Shiv is a visionary; article on open batting stance
In reply to Narper
Shiv get credit from this WI crowd? You still believe in miracles, i see.
Some too busy killing white fowls because of Shiv! 
Dem men now learning what the old tiger knew years ago....
Batsmen have been using open stances for a long time. Most particularly some right handers when facing left armers bowling over the wicket or some right armers bowling around the wicket.
That said.....Shiv is definitely the first I can remember whose stance was so exaggeratedly open. I remember when he first tested it out on the scab tour of new zealand when he was captain and did not have a good series. He worked on it and it turned out to work excellently for him.
In reply to imusic
I used to open my stance when bowlers went around the wicket to me, it worked very well, but my coach told me to cut that rubbish out.
This was days of youth cricket.
If memory serves me Bacchus also had a feet wide apart stance, little good that did for him
In reply to Runs
Faoud was sweet to watch bat.....AND field
Hola...2 eye /1 eye stance /feet apart etc etc...
coaching manual and approach was written and preached by the colonial masters.....just as how they were hell bent on civilising the world...
just as how girls were taught to curtsy etc..I can go on and on....
however few wanted to move away from that school of thought....as if you did you were called ugly/cannot play etc..does S.Chanderpaul come to mind?
Eventually it was found that standing comfortable at the crease..irrespective of looking pretty(in the colonialist's minds)was more important....eyes/coordination/bat speed and general ability to play the ball is whats count.....
You had to play the game to understand...
Bacchus tried to change his stance too often and never really adapted to going back to basic...relax the bam bam and play cricket.
ADIOS
CB
