DON BRADMAN EXPLAINS HOW HE HITS WITH GREATEST FORCE

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 72, 25 March 1931, Page 12

DON BRADMAN EXPLAINS HOW HE HITS WITH GREATEST FORCE

“ All Bowlers Must Be Treated On Merits, Not On Their Reputation.” (By DON BRADMAN.) (No. 26.)

-t coming down on the bail with a peril pendicular bat it can be driven hard and with certainty in any one of those )t four directions, according to where it is pitched, as for the forward drive—favourite strokes of both Hammond

The square cut is made off a short pitched bait that rises, say, stump high or more, well outside the off stump By going across with the right foot and hitting the ball with the bat al-

most horizontal coming just slightly down on the ball, it can be played either directly square or behind point. By going across.with the left foot the ball can be more easily hit in front of point. In each case the action is the same, apart from the foot moved, and the shot is an easy and safe one, which can be played on every type of wicket. Next we find the cover drive, oft drive, straight drive and the on drive. These shots are all similar, and 1 will deal with them together. A slightly over-pitched ball, say, a foot outside the off stump, can be driven through the covers by hitting it on the half volley with an ordinary swing and follow through drive. The front foot comes forward, pointing in the direction in which the ball is being hit. If the ball is just outside or on the off stump, exactly the same shot is employed to drive it, either on the off drive or straight, whereas on the leg stump or thereabouts it can be driven for an on drive. The only difference in these shots is the direction in which the ball is hit. In every case hit as hard as possible. The drive is the easiest shot of all, and a great run-producer. Similarly, every one of these strokes can be made off a short-pitched ball. By going back in one’s crease. and

n and Duleepsinhji, particularly through g the covers. That on-drive covers a wide area e also, for a ball over-pitched in the t- direction of the batsman’s legs can I really be driven anywhere between g mid-on and square leg. e Should the ball be outside the leg f- stump, though, the leg glance is usually n employed. In making a forward leg glance I do not move my back foot. 5- but merely shift the front one toward f the ball, just leaning forward, and by i- turning the bat as it makes contact ii with the ball can glance the ball anywhere between square and fine leg, as I required by the field.

Pull Shot Is Great Run Producer.

Then there is another leg glance. This is used when the ball is .slightly under-pitched outside the leg stump. It can be made by moving in toward the wicket with the back foot, following with the left one, and, as the ball passes, deflecting it in the exact direction you wish.

These strokes are orthodox ones, covering every portion of the field. We also have the hook and the pull shot. The pull shot is frequently used bj l - myself, and I have been criticised for doing it more than for any other shot I make. To a short-pitched ball on the wicket or outside the off stump I move forward with the left foot toward mid-off. then with a horizontal bat pull the ball between mid-on and square leg. Many critics have said that it should be made with a perpendicular bat, and I do not wish to say who is right

or wrong,.but I am merely stating my own method, and I have - certainly found the horizontal bat suits my own style much better in making this shot. While admitting that the stroke must be employed only when the batsman is positive he cannot miss the ball, I find it a wonderfuf run-pro-

ducing shot. The ball can be hit with terrific power, and, as there are generally no fieldsmen in this position, too, it mostly adds four runs to the total. As previously stated, everything here depends on the batsman’s judgment to pick the right ball off which to do this shot. Though at times I may take risks with it, I can honestly say it has got me out on very few occasions, whereas I have scored hundreds of runs with it. The hook shot is one that requires a good deal of courage. With a fast bowler dropping the ball very short, it generally rises about chest high, and the tendency is to get out of the way. By going in toward the wicket and swinging at the ball with the bat as it comes toward your chest, the hook can very often produce a lot of runs. The body is turning as the stroke is-being made, and. though the batsman may be hit occasionally, I find the risk is very small, for after a short while you develop accuracy to a marked degree. Alan ICippax plays this shot better than arn*one I know, and makes a lot of runs from it.

Hit Balls That Deserve To Be Hit.

I hope the illustrations herewith will serve to give my readers a . clearer knowledge of what I am trying to convey in reference to these strokes. Above all, treat every bowler entirely on his merits. Do not think because a man has a wonderful reputation as a bowler that he is going to bowl wonderful balls all the. time. Reputation should not get you out. and if the ball deserves to be hit. hit it. Do not think of who delivered it.

score. Cricket would be a dull game if the batsman never took a - chance, and I am a firm believer in playing the game always as a sport, and not a. business. Maybe there are times when a batsman is given out caught behind the wicket, and he knows he did not touch the ball, or l.b.w. when he thinks he was not *out. These occur to everyone some time or other, and it behoves everybody to accept the umpire’s decision without making a scene or disputing. J his is the true test of a sportsman, and: remember, umpires are human, doing their best honestly and conscientiousk'. Also, that there are times when you are out and are given “ not out." Do you walk off the field then?

Likewise, always look for runs. Do not be afraid to take a slight risk if you have a chance of adding to your