When Radio Was Our Cricket Coach — The commentators supplied the words. We supplied the pictures. Bat Skills Cricket Sunday Feature There was a time when you did not need a screen to watch cricket. You needed a radio — and an imagination. For generations of cricket followers, particularly before television became widely accessible, radio was the medium that brought the game to them. Across the cricket-playing world the circumstances differed, but the experience was familiar.

Play late - Great batting Part 7 “Play the ball late.” It is one of cricket’s oldest instructions, passed from coach to batter almost as naturally as “watch the ball” or “keep your head still.” But what does playing late actually mean? At its simplest, it means playing the ball under your eye. The simplicity of that statement can disguise the difficulty of achieving it. The ball does not arrive the same way every time. Line, length and pace vary. So does the bowler. Most impo

There are cricketers whose greatness can be measured in runs, centuries and records. Then there are those whose careers alter what a cricketing nation believes is possible. Sunil Gavaskar belongs to both categories. When he retired from Test cricket in 1987, Gavaskar had scored 10,122 runs at an average of 51.12, with 34 centuries. He was the first batter in Test history to reach 10,000 runs and the first to surpass Sir Donald Bradman's long-standing mark of 29 Test centuries

"The format may change. The quality of the delivery does not." Every batter dreams of playing the perfect cover drive. Every fast bowler dreams of delivering the perfect ball. For generations, that ball has rarely been a yorker or a bouncer. It has been the well-executed good-length delivery around the top of off stump. Regardless of the format, it continues to ask the same timeless question: Can you defend me? Modern cricket celebrates attacking stroke play. Boundaries fill

Sir Clive Lloyd: Master of the Slog Sweep Great teams are not created by talent alone. They require leadership capable of bringing different personalities, backgrounds and abilities together around a common purpose. That was Sir Clive Lloyd’s greatest contribution to West Indies cricket. Lloyd’s cricketing upbringing was shaped at Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) in Queenstown, Georgetown. Long before he became one of cricket’s most respected captains, the foundations of his game

The greatest innings are remembered for the shots that were played. Many are built on the shots that never were. Every generation of cricket produces remarkable stroke-makers. Cover drives become more elegant. Pull shots become more powerful. New scoring options continue to redefine what is possible with the bat. Yet amid the excitement surrounding modern batting, one of the game’s most valuable skills receives far less attention than it deserves. The ability to leave the bal

By Moniram (Philip) Ramcharitar Every generation celebrates its great batsmen. Few, however, leave behind a legacy measured not only by their achievements, but by the respect they earn throughout the cricket world. Rohan Bholalall Kanhai was one of those rare cricketers. For many, Kanhai will always be remembered as one of cricket's most gifted stroke-makers. His unorthodox style, fearless approach, and remarkable hand-eye coordination produced innings that captivated spectat

Watch the world's finest batters, and one quality seems to separate them from everyone else. They rarely appear rushed. Whether defending a fast bowler, driving elegantly through the covers, or playing a late cut, they seem to have more time than everyone else. The difference is not that they possess quicker reflexes or see the ball earlier than everyone else. More often, they have developed one of batting's greatest assets: timing. If there is one quality every batter hopes

A Tribute to Sir Garfield Sobers Dedicated to Sir Garfield Sobers, whose extraordinary versatility continues to inspire generations of cricketers around the world. By Moniram (Philip) Ramcharitar Founder, Bat Skills Cricket Welcome to the first Bat Skills Cricket Sunday Feature. Each Sunday, we will explore the people, ideas, and enduring principles that continue to shape our game. There is no better place to begin than with a cricketer who redefined what was possible on a cr

Head Position: Why Great Batters Keep Their Eyes Level "A steady head gives the eyes time to work." — Bat Skills Cricket Principle #3 Batting is often described as a game of quick reactions, yet the world's best players somehow appear to have more time than everyone else. The ball leaves the bowler's hand at the same speed, the pitch remains the same length, and the conditions are identical for every batter. Still, the finest players consistently make better decisions under p

"Balance gives every shot a better chance." — Bat Skills Cricket Principle #2 Batting is often celebrated through its most memorable moments. A perfectly timed cover drive. A commanding pull shot. A straight drive that races back past the bowler. These are the moments that capture our attention because they are where the runs are scored. Yet beneath every great stroke lies a quality that rarely receives the same recognition. Balance. It may be one of the most overlooked skill

The Foundations of Great Batting Part 1 Purposeful Footwork Great Hands Often Begin with Great Feet. Introduction Batting is often judged by the shots players play. The cover drive through extra cover. The pull shot into the stands. The perfectly timed straight drive. These are the moments that appear on scorecards and highlights. Yet great batting frequently begins before the bat even moves. It begins with the feet. Why Footwork Matters One of the greatest misconceptions in