The Front Foot Defence

The Front Foot Defence

This is a defensive shot played to a good length ball pitching in line with the stumps. It does not pitch far enough up to drive off the front foot without hitting the ball into the air. This shot is the foundation of your innings. You use it more than any other shot, to play yourself in and build an innings.

Front View Image:

Leaning in and stepping forward
Middle and Off Line Lean with head and shoulder		Leg Stump Line Pad directly in line with the ball, body position open slightly more on leg stump line
EXECUTING THE SHOT
Bat and pad together (no gap)		Looking through hands and high leading elbow on completion of shot

Side View Image:

Middle and Off Line Good stride towards the ball, backswing remains raised	Leg Stump Line Shorter stride towards the ball, backswing remains raised
EXECUTING FRONT FOOT DEFENCE
Strike ball forward of front pad, fingers and thumb bottoms hand grip	High leading elbow and diamond shape formed with arms

NOTE - When playing against a fast bowler you must let the ball come to you. The stride down the wicket will not be shorter than the stride played to a spin bowler. When playing against spin look to take a longer stride and get your foot out to meet the ball more, to smother the spin.

View Videos of Front Foot Defence

Middle and Off Line:

Leg Stump Line:

Video Analysis of the Front Foot Defence

BACKSWING, LEANING IN AND STEPPING FORWARD TO THE LINE OF THE BALL TO PLAY THE FRONT 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.

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, lean towards ball with head and shoulder forward of body. As bat nears top of backswing start to make initial foot movement.

Eyes level
Leave hands behind hip pocket
Keep head in line with ball, forward of front foot

3. Step to line of ball, bend front knee, keep back leg straight.
(Note difference for leg stump line deliveries)

Weight on front foot
Head directly above front foot
Inside toe of back leg grounded
Maintain sideways position of body

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

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

Arms maintain diamond shape throughout
Relaxed arms
Top hand controls shot, bottom hand guides 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)
No gap between bat and front pad
Leading elbow close to head
Look through hands on impact with ball
FRONT FOOT - HEAD - HANDS in line with each other
Defend ball so it stops just in front of you

NEVER PLAY FRONT FOOT DEFENCE TOWARDS THE COVERS AREA
YOU COULD GET CAUGHT IN THE SLIPS --- LEAVE IT!

COACHING POINTS TO LOOK FOR FROM SIDE VIEW

1. Lean towards ball with head and shoulder forward of body.
2. Good step forward towards the pitch of the ball.
3. Backswing remains raised (hands up high behind back hip pocket).
4. Weight on bent front leg.
5. Back leg straight with heel raised and inside of toe touching the floor, thus ensuring sideways body position.
6. Diamond shape maintained by arms throughout shot.
7. Hands forward of bat face on impact, below eye level.
8. Complete shot looking over the top of the bat handle, with elbow close to head.
9. Strike ball directly below eye level, forward of front pad.
10. Fingers and thumb, bottom hand grip maintained on impact. Bottom hand acts as a shock absorber.

DIFFERENCES WITH FRONT FOOT DEFENCE ON LEG STUMP LINE

1. Dip head and shoulder more than for middle and off line deliveries, and LET THE BALL COME MORE.
2. Open leading shoulder to point at straight mid on, so hip opens slightly, allowing you to push bat towards ball. (Maintain more open body position throughout the shot.)
3. Take a SHORTER stride towards the ball and point front foot directly up the wicket. (Weight on ball of front foot.)
4. Plant front foot down the line of the leg stump - NO WIDER. (If you miss the ball it should hit your front pad.)
5. Keep head forward of front foot and directly above body. EYES LEVEL.
6. As bat is PUSHED 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)
Head in line with bat handle, eyes level
Full face of the bat

MAKE CONTACT WITH BALL FORWARD AND
DIRECTLY IN LINE WITH FRONT LEG

NOTE:
1: Only on leg stump line can this defensive shot become a LEG GLANCE
2: A low-risk, improvised scoring shot used mainly against fast bowlers and bouncing pitches, in one-day cricket.

AIM: TO DEFEND THE BALL TOWARDS MID ON

Coaching and Games for the Front Foot Defence