The Back Foot Defence

View Videos of Back Foot Defence

Middle and Off Line:

Leg Stump Line:

Video Analysis of the Back Foot Defence

BACKSWING, STEPPING BACK AND ACROSS INTO LINE TO PLAY THE BACK FOOT DEFENCE

As the bowler is about to deliver the ball

1. With a dominant top hand and relaxed bottom hand, pick up bat over off stump, open bat face slightly.

• Lift bottom hand up behind back hip pocket
• Create diamond shape with arms
• Leading elbow bent at 90°, pointing down wicket
• Free rear arm from body
• Bottom hand holds bat with fingers and thumb only

2. From sideways position, dip head and shoulder towards ball. As bat nears top of backswing, begin to push off front leg, step back and across crease.
(GET HEAD AND BODY IN LINE WITH THE BALL.)

• Keep eyes level
• Keep head forward of body
• Keep head and leading shoulder pointing down the wicket

3. Plant back foot parallel to crease and maintain sideways position. Weight now on back foot, head over front foot. Front leg slides towards back foot, to act as counterbalance.
(Note difference for leg stump line deliveries.)

• Stand tall
• Head forward of body
• Head and shoulder pointing down wicket
• All three stumps should never be showing!
• Toes of front foot resting lightly on the ground

EXECUTING BACK FOOT DEFENCE
No follow-through with this shot, just stop the ball.
Think! Soft and high hands

4. From top of backswing, push hands and bat face towards ball, forearms passing close to body.

• Arms maintain diamond shape throughout
• Relaxed arms
• Top hand controls shot, bottom hand guides the bat
• Forearms in line with ball

5. Make contact with ball forward of body and just below eye level with dominant top hand. Bottom hand holds bat with fingers and thumb only, acting as a shock absorber.

• Hands forward of bat face on impact
  (full face of bat)
• Leading elbow close to head
• No gap between bat and body
• Look through hands on impact with ball
• BACK FOOT - HEAD - HANDS in line with each other
• Defend ball so it stops just in front of you

COACHING POINTS TO LOOK FOR FROM SIDE VIEW

1. Deep step back into the crease.
2. Back foot parallel to the crease.
(Note difference for leg stump line deliveries)
3. Weight on back foot, head forward of body.
4. Hands up behind back hip pocket, backswing still raised.
5. Diamond shape maintained with forearms throughout shot.
6. Front leg slides towards back leg with heel raised and toes lightly touching ground (counterbalance).
7. Stand tall and make contact with ball below eye level and forward of body.
8. Bottom hand fingers and thumb grip, acting as a shock absorber.
9. Hands forward of bat face on impact with ball.
10. Complete shot looking through hands with high elbow position close to head.

DIFFERENCES WITH FRONT FOOT DEFENCE ON LEG STUMP LINE

1. Dip leading shoulder more and open it slightly, and maintain the position as you step back and across to execute the shot.
2. Step INSIDE the line of the ball, giving you the option of playing a LEG GLANCE.
3. Plant back foot tilted slightly inwards towards the covers area to adopt a more open body position. (Back leg covers middle and off stump)
4. Open hips and front leg towards the leg side, allowing you to PUSH the bat at the ball.
5. As you push the bat towards the line of the ball, work harder to maintain:

• Dominant top hand
• Relaxed fingers and thumb bottom hand grip
• Diamond shape with arms
• High leading elbow, close to head
• Full face of the bat

NOTE:
1: Only on leg stump line can this defensive shot become a LEG GLANCE
2: A low-risk, improvised scoring shot.