Cricket is one of the longest-running modern sports in popularity. For centuries now cricket has been played around the world (in some places more than others) it is still considered the oldest professional team sport. Consisting of two teams with 11 players, each team gets to take turns batting and playing the field. Much like baseball, a game of cricket requires a batter and a pitcher with two batsmen being on the pitch at the same time.
This sporting activity isn’t without benefits. The most important benefit of playing cricket is increased coordination and balance. This is especially the case when you bat, which also improves your flexibility and overall physical fitness. When you bat, your motor skills improve too, and not to forget that you also tone your muscles. If all this sounds great and you enjoy hitting a ball with a bat in a more leisure way, then you should learn how to use cricket bats and get a bat from an online bat cricket store.
How to Use Cricket Bat
Stance
First things first, when learning how to use a cricket bat you need to have a proper stance. The best way to bat is to stand sideways. Make sure to face the bowler with your feet shoulder-width apart and your body slightly bent. Your back should be straight with your non-dominant shoulder towards the bowler.
Hold
The next most important thing is to properly hold the bat. By holding the bat in the right position you have a better chance of hitting the ball properly. You should hold a bat tight and firmly with the non-dominant hand on the lower end of the bat. Your knuckles should be facing the bowler and your dominant hand should be right above your non-dominant hand holding the bat with 2 fingers and your thumb.
Distance
To determine the distance between the bat and the stump, draw a line in the turf from the middle wicket. You can use your bat’s end to do that and ensure that it is parallel to the middle wicket to help you determine where your wickets are when batting.
Tapping
When you’re ready to bat you tap on the guard line with your bat. This needs to be done with a straight bat and you should avoid tapping excessively.
Swinging & Batting
When the bowler sends the ball your way you need to have your lead leg in front. You need to swing the bat backwards for momentum and while lifting the bat you should have it pint up straight in the air. The bat should come up to your back shoulder.
Low balls require you to step forward to hit them and high balls require you to step backwards. When you swing the bat downwards you need to have your elbow facing the bowler. There are many other batting techniques but this one is the most common one and it’s called straight drive.
How to Oil a Cricket Bat
- To help keep the bat in perfect shape you need to oil it. This is done firstly by pouring some linseed oil on a piece of carton. All online bat enthusiasts and on-pitch professionals will advise you to use linseed oil, as it provides the best protection. Spread the linseed oil on a carton and use a rag to cover the bat with it multiple times over so it absorbs nicely.
- Then, apply the linseed oil with the rag on the face of the bat with forward movements down the blade. You should avoid applying linseed oil to the splice area. Periodically check by looking down the line of the face. Next, go over the toe of the blade with one sweeping motion at a time.
- Once you’re done with the toe, apply linseed oil down the edges of the blade. This needs to be done the same way you applied the oil on the face of the blade. Take a good look at the edges a couple of times while applying the linseed oil. This will tell you how well the areas are covered.
- Place your bat on the side with the face upwards to avoid the linseed oil-covered surface getting in contact with the ground. Again, put some linseed oil on a piece of carton and dab it in with the rag. Spread the oil on the other side of the bat, avoiding the splice area.
- Check occasionally to ensure that you’ve covered all the areas and then go over the edges once again and the face of the blade too. When done, leave the bat to dry off in a well-ventilated area without any source of heat nearby. Make sure you have the bat with the handle upwards and away from any debris or dust.