Cricket - essential skills and techniques The cricket straight drive

A straight drive is a deliberate shot that aims to hit the ball along the ground to prevent being caught out.

Stage one

• Stand with feet shoulder width apart and parallel to the batting crease.
• Slightly flex knees and keep weight evenly distributed.
• Rest the hand and top of bat gently against the inside thigh of your front leg with the bat resting on the floor at a 45° angle.
• Keep your head over the front foot and face the bowler.

Stage two

• As the bowler approaches, the bat should remain close to the body but brought upward, bending both elbows, until the bat is parallel to the shoulders.
• As the ball is released, move the front foot behind the front knee and chest and keep the back leg straight and foot planted.
• The head should be level with the front knee, with the back foot raised up to the toes.
• On contact, the bat accelerates vertically through a straight path, keeping elbows bent and locked, until the face of the bat is pointing to the sky.