Cricket commentators throw around shot names as if everyone already knows them. Cover drive, square cut, pull, flick. Here is a simple guide to the most important ones, so the next time you watch a match, you can see what the batter is doing.
The drives
A drive is played with a full swing of the bat along the ground, to a ball pitched up near the batter. The straight drive goes back past the bowler. The cover drive, played to a ball outside off stump, goes through the covers on the off side and is often called the most elegant shot in cricket. The on drive goes through the leg side. A well-timed drive barely looks like effort at all.
The cuts and pulls
When the bowler pitches short and wide, the batter can cut, a horizontal bat swing that sends the ball square on the off side. A late cut is a delicate version that guides the ball behind the wicket.
When the ball is short and on the body, the batter can pull or hook. A pull is played to a ball that bounces around waist height. A hook is played at a higher bouncer. Both send the ball around the leg side, and both carry risk, because a mistimed hook can lead to a catch.
Working the ball
Not every shot goes for a boundary. The flick and the glance push the ball off the pads to the leg side for a single or two. They are the bread and butter of a good innings, keeping the scoreboard moving and tiring out the fielders.
The sweep family
Against spin bowlers, the sweep is a key weapon. The batter goes down on one knee and sweeps the ball around the leg side. The reverse sweep flips the bat and sends it to the off side, and it was once considered cheeky. Today it is an accepted part of the modern game. The paddle sweep is a gentler version that taps the ball fine.
The new school
T20 cricket has produced shots that earlier generations would not have imagined. The scoop, or ramp, lifts a fast ball over the wicketkeeper’s head. The switch hit sees a batter change their stance mid-delivery and play as a left-hander or right-hander. These shots require remarkable skill and are thrilling when they come off.
Defence is a shot too
The forward defence and the backward defence do not score runs, but they are the foundation of every great innings. A batter who can defend can also leave the ball, trust their technique, and wait for the right ball to attack.
Next time you watch, try spotting the shots. Notice when a batter chooses defence over attack, and why. Once you recognise the vocabulary, every ball becomes a little more fun to watch.