Introduction to defence in cricket
A defence is the first thing that is taught to batsman when they start to play cricket. It is the most basic as well as the most important factor to start off as a batsman. A defence or a defensive shot is something that ensures stability to a batsman and also a sense of comfort as it is a low risk shot. Having a good defence helps align the batsman’s head along with the line of the ball as well as ensure the batsman stays balanced. There are two types of defence which are forward and backfoot defence which are played based on the length of the ball.
What is the purpose of a good defence?
The main purpose is to just block the ball, it is not something that is played to ensure runs and is a low risk low yield shot. Even though it is a low yielding shot in the short run, it is a stepping stone to success in the long run in terms of an innings and the career of a batsman on the whole. A batsman with a good defence is one who can get his eye set on the ball and is aware of the conditions around him. It is what ensures the start of an innings as a solid defence is complimented with the ball hitting the middle of the bat in turn building the confidence of the batsman. As viewers it becomes easy to judge a defensive batsman or a good defence as it is not the most entertaining thing to watch in a match but little do viewers realise that the defence is what shifts momentum towards the batsman, it is what leads the bowler to experiment with different variations to break that solid wall of a good defensive block, it is what forces the bowlers to make errors and fielders to get frustrated. The defence is the silent killer of an entire fielding unit, slowly wearing them down with grit and sturdiness. Sometimes it’s just elegant to watch batsman block a ball of a fast bowler steaming in at full speed from 25 yards to the pitch only to be sent back by a casual looking defensive which is actually extremely compact and precise. Although the use of the defence and defensive shots are decreasing with shorter formats of the game being played, it is still what the batsman rely on behind the scenes to hit the big ones in these shorter formats. Rahul Dravid is the best example of how a defensive batsman dominated the world of cricket, especially test cricket, even with his defensive style of play, he was able to score a century in every test playing nation in the world as well as become of the highest scoring batsmen in international cricket of all time. He also holds the record of most balls faced in test cricket and is credited as They Wall’ of Indian cricket due to his impeccable technique and style.
Lapses in defence
The main function of the defence in a match is to just block the ball from hitting the stump or the pads and nothing more but even in international cricket we see top level cricketers getting out playing the defence. There are multiple instances of batsmen getting out defending the ball that isn’t going to hit the stumps nor the pads or also known as balls that pitch outside the line of the off stump. If the sole purpose of the defence is to block the ball hitting the stumps the most practical thing to do to any ball outside off stump is to leave it as trying to defend it defeats the purpose of the forward or back foot defence. This defence played anywhere outside the area of the stumps becomes a high risk low yield shot making it a complete loss for the batsman and his confidence. A good defence is played close to the body and is compact but defending outside the area of the stumps is away from the body thus minimising the chance of middling the ball with the bat leading to edges and chances of getting caught behind or in the slip cordon. Defence played away from the body against spinners increases the gap between the bat and the pad which in turn increases the risk of getting bowled through the gap or even getting out LBW.
Conclusion
As batsman it is important to know the purpose of a good defence and when and where it is to be played. It is the building block to a good batting technique and towards a long term career in batting. It is also important to learn which balls are to be defended and which are to be left alone.
As viewers it is essential not to undermine the value of defensive techniques used in matches for the thirst of watching batsmen score runs off every ball. The defence is what wins the psychological battle in a match and that accounts to what 80% of what cricket is. When you win the battle in the mind, you end up winning the war on the field.
