Bouncer Defence

Advancedbatting

Balanced, ready to react.

When the short ball is too close to attack, sway out of the way or play a controlled defensive shot under the eyes.

Key points

•Watch the ball early
•Sway back with weight on the back foot
•Keep hands close to the body
•Helmet and body out of the line

Practice with Coach Rohan

Camera setup tips

· Place the camera side-on to you, 2 to 3 metres away.
· Keep your whole body in frame, head to feet.
· Phone on a tripod or a laptop webcam both work.
· Perform the movement, pause, repeat. Your coach speaks every 15 seconds.

Theory & Technique

Handling the bouncer is as much about courage as it is about technique. When a fast bowler pitches the ball short and it rears up toward your chest or head, you have two options: attack it (pull or hook) or defend. The defensive option involves swaying your upper body back and away from the ball while keeping your eyes on it the entire time. Transfer your weight onto the back foot, lean away from the ball's line, and keep your hands close to your body. If you must play a shot, keep it controlled — bat close to the body, soft hands, angled down. The goal is survival, not scoring.

Fun Fact

In the infamous 1932-33 Bodyline series, England bowlers deliberately aimed at the batters' bodies. It was so dangerous that it caused a diplomatic incident between England and Australia, and the laws of cricket were changed specifically because of it!

Watch the real thing

Learn from real coaches first. Your live scoring compares you to the reference figure above; these videos are for learning, and stay with their creators on YouTube.