The Back Foot Drives

View Videos of Back Foot Drives

OFF DRIVE:

STRAIGHT DRIVE:

ON DRIVE:

Video Analysis of the Back Foot Drives

BACKSWING, STEPPING BACK AND ACROSS IN LINE TO PLAY THE BACK FOOT DRIVES

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.

• Push hands 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.

• Eyes level, head and body behind line of ball
• Head still forward of body
• Head and shoulder pointing down 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 DRIVES
Do not try to hit the ball too hard
Think! Let the ball come to you and stroke it with correct technique using high hands.

4. From top of backswing, SWING arms and face of bat towards line of ball, with forearms passing close to body.

• Arms maintain diamond shape throughout
• Keep arms relaxed at all times
• Top hand controls shot, bottom hand guides bat

5. Strike ball forward of body below eye level, keeping top hand dominant and bottom hand relaxed.

• Hands forward of bat face on impact
• Bottom hand - hold bat with fingers and thumb only
• Forearms in line with each other
• Strike ball with full face of bat

6. Complete follow-through with leading elbow high above hands and close to head. Toe of bat follows line of the ball.

• Head forward of body
• Eyes remain level
• Diamond shape still maintained with arms
• Leading elbow close to head
• Look through hands
• Bottom hand - hold with fingers and thumb only

COACHING POINTS TO LOOK FOR FROM SIDE VIEW

1. Deep step back and across into crease.
2. Back foot parallel to crease. (Note differences for on drives below)
3. Weight on back foot with head forward of body.
4. Hands up behind back 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, make contact with ball below eye level, forward of body.
8. Bottom hand - fingers and thumb grip (to allow flow of arms and bat through line of ball).
9. Complete the shot with toe of bat following line of ball, keeping leading elbow high and close to head.

DIFFERENCES WITH BACK FOOT ON DRIVES

Think! Time the ball with correct technique
1. Dip leading shoulder more and open it slightly, and maintain its 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 the FLICK OFF THE LEGS. (Back leg covers middle and off stump.)
3. Plant back foot tilted slightly inwards towards the covers area to adopt a more open body position.
4. Open hips and front leg towards leg side, allowing you to swing the bat through the line of the ball.
5. As the bat SWINGS through 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 position
• High hands

NOTE:
1: Only on leg stump line can this on drive become a FLICK OFF THE LEGS
2: A low-risk, improvised scoring shot, useful when a fielder is blocking mid on, in one-day cricket.