Parts of a Cricket Bat

 

 

 

Cricket is a non-contact bat and ball sport with similarities to baseball. A batsman faces a bowler and attempts to hit a hard, leather-covered ball to score runs. Cricket bats are traditionally made of white willow wood that has been treated with linseed oil to make the wood waterproof and less likely to split. Cricket bats are available in a range of sizes and weights to suit male, female and junior cricketers.

 

 

 

 

Cricket Bat Handle

 

 

 

The handle of a cricket bat is cylindrical and covered in a rubber or fabric grip to prevent it from slipping out of your hands. The handle, made from white willow wood or cane, is often bound with fine twine to further enhance your grip, and is attached to the body of the bat via a woodworking joint called a splice, essentially a V-shaped plug. The handle is long enough that the batsman can hold the bat with one hand above the other.

 

 

 

 

 

Cricket Bat Shoulder

 

 

 

The top part of a cricket bat closest to the handle is called the shoulder. This part of the bat is not used for striking the ball, although it counts if the ball hits this part of the bat accidentally. The shoulder of a cricket curves down and away from the handle to become part of the main body of the bat.

 

 

 

 

Cricket Bat Blade

 

 

The main body of a cricket bat is called the blade. The rear of the blade has a pronounced outward curve that provides weight and rigidity to the bat while the front of the blade is flatter and provides the main striking surface. Some cricket bat blades are covered with hard plastic to protect the wooden surface from wear and tear. The center of the blade is known as the sweet spot, although batsmen will use different parts of the blade to play different shots. The ball can be clipped and hit at an angle by using the edge of the bat or driven straight off the sweet spot.

 

 

 

Cricket Bat Toe

 

 

 

 

The toe of the bat is the bottom of the blade and the part of the bat that rests on the ground as the batsman waits to hit the ball. While a batsman does not purposely use the toe of the bat to hit the ball, if the ball should glance off this part of the bat, any runs scored count.

 

Slips and Close in Catching are highly specialized positions. Mainly because the ball takes very less time to reach the fielder. There are Certain qualities required to be a good close-in fielder.

Catches win matches and the majority are taken in attacking field positions close to the bat such as the slips or in the gully.In these areas your reactions will be tested to the maximum.Like batting or bowling, close catching is a skill you’ll develop the more you practise.

In these areas your reactions will be tested to the maximum.
Like batting or bowling, close catching is a skill you’ll develop the more you practise

STEP ONE

Stand with your feet wider than shoulder width apart and with knees bent.

The palms of the hands should be together, with fingers spread and pointing down.

STEP TWO

Arms and hands should be in front of the body with the head still and the eyes level.

Watch the ball into the softest part of relaxed hands and wrap fingers around the ball, drawing the hands towards the body.

Catching Skills

Catching requires five basic skills: Excellent reflexes to get the ball, good hand-eye coordination, anticipation and alertness to react to the ball quickly, and a still head to keep the technique together.

As the ball comes toward you, try to use two hands, keep still and keep your eye on the ball. Point your fingers away from your body to create a large surface area by spreading your fingers wide. When the ball enters your hands, try to cushion the ball by moving your hands back toward you. This “give,” as Woolmer calls it, will reduce the chances of the ball bouncing back out of your hands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpuEfkToRnc

The Benefits of Playing Cricket

 

A popular bat and ball sport across the world, cricket is similar to American baseball, with batters attempting to hit a pitched ball for the purpose of scoring runs. Teams consist of 11 players, each with specific responsibilities. Aside from excitement and competitive fun, cricket provides its participants with a number of other benefits, with the game serving to improve one’s physical, social and even emotional well-being.

 

 

Physical

 

Like most competitive sports, cricket requires skill, strength, stamina and coordination. Batsmen need extraordinary hand-eye coordination to hit the pitched ball, which can be thrown at speeds approaching 90 mph, and the mere act of swinging the long, flat bat builds upper-body strength. Pitchers, known as bowlers, need exceptional coordination and flexibility to hurl the ball in cricket’s overhand throwing motion, while fielders need speed and athleticism to chase down batted balls. Once a batsman does put a ball in play, he must sprint from wicket to wicket to score runs, only further enhancing cardiovascular health. And with games sometimes lasting days at a time, cricket also promotes improved physical stamina.

Mental

 

Cricket requires a sharp mind. Batters must read not only the bowled ball but also the fielders in an attempt to recognize a weakness in their defensive setup. A truly skilled batsman can process the information and exploit the vulnerability in a blink of an eye. Bowlers need to do the same with each individual batter, analyzing their swings and tendencies to find an exploitable weakness. Even manning the field builds mental focus, as players implement strategies for each hitter. Regardless of position, cricket players achieve superior mental concentration and toughness, with a strong mind needed to handle the sport’s rigors.

 

Emotional

 

Players learn to deal with success and failure, benefiting from the sport’s intense pressure and hopefully transferring the lessons into other aspects of life. Cricket players must work together to accomplish goals, fostering camaraderie, cooperation and a sense of unity. This teamwork requires communication, helping build new and stronger social relationships. Cricket also allows for the emotional satisfaction in setting and achieving goals. Batters will often attempt to score a particular number of runs per game, giving them a sense of purpose. Striving to accomplish these goals improves discipline and confidence, making cricket a valuable tool in shaping one’s self-esteem.

Fitness Tips for Cricket

Though cricket appears to include long spells of rest in the field, regular short bursts of activity and long periods of batting take their physical toll. The best cricketers have fitness on their side. For example, you’re unlikely to bowl at your best if you’re breathing heavily after just a few balls. And you’re more likely to make a basic batting error if you’re panting after a previous run. But if you want to to play better cricket, there are ways to get fit.

 

Cardio Fitness

 

Whether batting, bowling or fielding, cricketers require good cardiovascular fitness. Cardio, or aerobic, fitness relates to how well your body takes in oxygen and gets rid of carbon dioxide. Aerobic exercises may also help prevent muscle injuries and fatigue. Useful aerobic exercises for cricket include running, cycling and swimming. Another tip is to practice running with full pads and cricket gear on. You may be able to run 100 feet wearing a t-shirt, but running in full pads is another matter.

 

 

 

Gym Equipments

Cricket Training in the Gym

 

Training at the gym for cricket fitness poses the question of which machines and exercises to try. In a 2007 Pitch Vision article about cricket fitness in the gym, David Hinchliffe suggests several cricket-specific routines. For example, leg lunges work the muscles used for positioning yourself for perfect batting shots and gaining a fast sprint start. Bench pressing and dumbbell exercises work the muscles needed to hit big shots or bowl fast balls. However, strength more than bulk is usually the aim of cricket fitness programs. Using the rowing machine helps you develop good overall upper body strength for cricket.

 

 

Cricket Circuit Training

 

Developing a circuit training program is an excellent way to improve cricket fitness. Exercises should focus on a combination of explosive power and stamina. You need no specialist equipment for these exercises. For example, in the DPH Sports Series book “Cricket,” Ashok Kumar suggests including pull-ups, burpees, back raises, push-ups, abdominal curls and sprint runs as part of an overall fitness program for cricketers. Aim to include eight exercises in your session. Perform each exercise with as many repetitions as possible for around 60 seconds.

 

 

 

 

Explosive Power and Flexibility

 

Flexible fielders can make the most acrobatic of catches. Flexibility also helps batsmen move their body into position quickly for a shot and even prevents bowlers from picking up too many injuries. Pilates and yoga are two useful ways to get limber for cricket, according to “Cricket for Dummies.” Short energetic exercises, such as an indoor group cycling session, can improve your overall endurance and explosive power. Try sprint exercises with varied pacing to help you get used to the stop-start nature of cricket.