Tipping over while batting

   Hello All Cricket Gurus!

I'm an issue with my batting ... i tend to tip over or fall over or over lean while batting. I guess because of this, i am unable to play square off the wicket restricting my shots to just in the V. I am a front foot player, and get forward for pretty much every ball. Is there something that can be done to correct my balance while playing forwards?

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Cacophonix Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List 12th Man Joined: 15 October 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Post Options Post Reply Quote Cacophonix Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Tipping over while batting Posted: 12 March 2007 at 6:21pm
	Hello All Cricket Gurus! I'm an issue with my batting ... i tend to tip over or fall over or over lean while batting. I guess because of this, i am unable to play square off the wicket restricting my shots to just in the V. I am a front foot player, and get forward for pretty much every ball. Is there something that can be done to correct my balance while playing forwards?

Smack Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List 3rd Man Joined: 13 March 2006 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 189	Post Options Post Reply Quote Smack Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 March 2007 at 1:26am
	Try extending your stride. Your legs act like pillars for your body, if your legs are too close together it can cause you to fall over. If your intial forward movement is too small your body may not have anything to support it. Head position - your head should be over your foot when making contact. If its neither of those perhaps you just have poor balance and need to work on it. Practice standing upright on 1 foot everyday.

MP12 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Middle-Order Batsman Joined: 24 April 2006 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 4221	Post Options Post Reply Quote MP12 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 March 2007 at 6:19am
	I have the same problem as well. Although does falling or leaning forward affecting the way you run between wickets or how well you play your shots or neither? Edited by MP12 - 13 March 2007 at 6:20am

scuudz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Wicket-Keeper Joined: 12 March 2007 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 1754	Post Options Post Reply Quote scuudz Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 March 2007 at 5:37pm
	Falling or leaning over due to lack of balance can have negative affects on your batting. It could take you a split second longer to take off for a run. Also, you will see that a lot of stumpings occur due to batsman getting on the front foot trying to defend the ball, misjudge the line and then due to poor balance, their back foot raises up slightly in the air. Thats all it takes for one to lose their wicket.

Cacophonix Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List 12th Man Joined: 15 October 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Post Options Post Reply Quote Cacophonix Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 March 2007 at 8:37pm
	Thanks for the responses! I do have an issue with my balance, and my gym trainer says the same thing. She said it was because of my weak calf muscles. I'll try to practice standing on one leg everyday, and see if that improves anything. I can't tell you the number of times, i've been stumped while trying to drive. Like someone mentioned here, if i miss the line of the ball, my back foot raises up, and the keeper whips the bails off! Also, is there a preferred initial movement? I heard aamir sohail saying on tv during the current world cup, that for a front foot player, the initial movement should be to go back, and vice versa for a back foot player. This was so that the batsman can use the depth of the crease to his advantage. It made sense to me, but anyone else buying into that? And i had one more question ... How do you normally play cover and extra cover drives? - Do you angle the blade at the last moment towards the intended direction with the bat swinging straight? or - Do you swing the bat towards that cover/extra cover region? I'm asking this because of the way i play, i tend to get my foot close to the pitch of the ball, even if it pitched outside off, and drive it in the V. Its very frustrating when the opposition seals that region off. Hope i've not confused anyone .... Thanks!

scuudz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Wicket-Keeper Joined: 12 March 2007 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 1754	Post Options Post Reply Quote scuudz Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 March 2007 at 9:58pm
	I understand what you mean!! I suggest you try both those options and go with what works for you. I used to drive a lot in the V when I started to and it upset me a lot because the cover drive is my favourite shot and I couldn't play it. Then, I was told to just focus on pointing the front foot where you want the ball to go and use your bottom hand on the bat a little more than usual. It worked for me. Using the crease is vital. Dont know about that theory though.

tommyboy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Test Debutant Joined: 06 April 2007 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 42	Post Options Post Reply Quote tommyboy Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 April 2007 at 8:36pm
	train at your cricket net or where u train then u will not fall over if u practice keeping your balance. Also , hold your shots afterwoods for as long as you can. Maybe you are trying to nhit the ball too hard so try to time it more before you start trying to smash it every time.

kingtal Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Trialist Joined: 26 April 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote kingtal Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 26 April 2008 at 1:44pm
	falling towards the off is one of the most common problems for batsmen. I am working on it, with some success, by 1. working on core strength (ie inner abdominal strength) to improve balance and 2. leading to the ball with the head (the heaviest part of the body), keeping eyes level at all time. The shot to practice to improve balance is the on- drive as it is the hardest shot to play with a stable base. Get onto a bowling machine if you can to replicate the shot.