Horizontal Bat Shots:

• The square cut is played to a ball bowled short and wide outside the off stump.

• The back foot moves back and across with the body weight transferred to it and the bat comes down on the ball from the top of the backlift.

• The ball should be hit with the full face of the bat at a point in front of the body.

• Generally, the back foot points in the direction you want to play the shot and the impact should be preferably at full arms length.

• The ball is kept on the ground with the roll of the wrists just after impact. The square cut can also be played off the front foot. This is done by going on the front foot and the stroke is played by bending the front knee and the bat is brought down from its backlift and thrown at the ball.

• What is important when playing the square cut is that the bat must come down from top on to the ball to get maximum power on the shot. The body weight must transfer from the front foot on to the back foot and into the arms during the downswing of the bat, from a high back lift.

• The pull is played to a short pitched ball coming at a height from the knee up to the stomach, which could be in any line from the off stump to outside the leg stump.

• Basically the shot is played by moving the back foot towards the stumps to get inside the line of the ball and opening it up so that the body is facing the bowler squarely.

• The bat comes down from a high back lift and the ball is struck with the arms extended at a point in front of the body. As the stroke is executed, the body weight should transfer from the back foot on to the front with a complete turn of the shoulder and the follow through is with a roll of the wrists to keep the ball down.

• The weight should finish on the front foot. The head is kept still with the eyes focussed on the ball and you should more early to avoid getting cramped.

• Your aim depends on the line of the delivery. If the ball is on off stump the aim of the shot should be towards mid on, through mid wicket if it is on middle stump and through square leg or long leg for a delivery in line with the leg stump or outside it.

• This is a cross bat shot and early movement, keeping your eyes on the ball all the time, a quick downswing from a high back lift and the transfer of weight with a turn of the body are the important points to note.

• This shot is played to the ball pitched well short on the leg stump or outside it (a bouncer) and coming at about chest level or higher.

• The back foot must be moved quickly backwards to get inside the line of the ball with the foot pointing towards mid off. The bat comes in a horizontal arc from a high back lift and the ball should be hit between square leg and fine leg.

• The body must pivot fully and the aim should be to hit down with a roll of the wrists. However by spotting the ball early and getting into a good position, the shot can be played to clear the boundary, with a back lift starting slightly below the shoulder and the follow through finishing above the shoulder. The feet should be well balanced during the pivot, allowing a smooth transfer of weight.