Cover Drive

Intermediatebatting

Balanced and relaxed, ready to go.

The shot everyone loves. High backlift, big stride, head over the ball, full flowing finish.

Key points

•Head over front knee
•Arms extend through the line
•Finish high and balanced

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

The cover drive is often called the most beautiful shot in cricket. It is played to a full-length ball pitched on or outside off stump. The batter strides forward with a big step, keeping the head over the front knee and the eyes level. The bat swings in a smooth arc, and at contact the arms extend fully through the line of the ball, sending it racing through the covers. The follow-through finishes high, over the front shoulder, with the batter balanced and still. The key to a good cover drive is timing and balance, not brute force — the ball should leave the bat with a sweet sound, not a thud.

Fun Fact

Sachin Tendulkar's cover drive was so famous that bowlers would deliberately avoid pitching the ball on his off stump. Commentator Harsha Bhogle once said, 'When Sachin plays a cover drive, even the ball seems to enjoy the ride.'

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.