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What is the most difficult cricket shot to successfully pull off?

H

howitzer

State Captain
Ali TT said:
There was an interview with Lara some years ago on Sky in the UK where he demonstrated how he could hit the same delivery anywhere from cover through to backward point. Pretty cool to watch.

In more recent times, I find the cover drive for six impressive, working against all sorts of momentum to hit the ball up and over and needs perfect timing and power.
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Kallis is mostly remembered for being a relatively defensive bat but he was genuinely excellent at these. I reckon at least half of his Test sixes were lofted cover drives.
 
S

subshakerz

Hall of Fame Member
howitzer said:
Kallis is mostly remembered for being a relatively defensive bat but he was genuinely excellent at these. I reckon at least half of his Test sixes were lofted cover drives.
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Those are especially difficult if against the swing. In fact even with the swing they can be hard to middle right.
 
A

Ali TT

International Vice-Captain
howitzer said:
Kallis is mostly remembered for being a relatively defensive bat but he was genuinely excellent at these. I reckon at least half of his Test sixes were lofted cover drives.
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Kallis's cover drive generally underrated. Because he was such a big guy, it could look like he was muscling the shot, but actually he had great timing too.
 
A

Arachnodouche

International Captain
Burgey said:
If you can execute back foot drives against length ball
fast bowling then you’re a player of the highest class, regardless of the record you end up with. This is a hill I am prepared to die on.
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Yeah especially so when you have to find gaps in the region. Marginally easier against ultra-aggressive field placements with no one in front of the wicket like how Aus used to have; even a semi-defensive block would fetch you runs, but having to drive through the ball with the middle of the bat, on your toes, leading elbow high as can be, piercing point and cover...now that's class.
 
A

Arachnodouche

International Captain
subshakerz said:
No his cover drives were super elegant. Dravid had very labored cover drives.
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Dravid didn't look labored exactly, just that he would get down very low and reach out with full extension of arms and front foot to meet the ball.

And yeah, Kallis looked like a conductor of symphonies on the drive with that flourish. Always thought him a very elegant stroke player on the rare occasions he chose to be.
 
sledger

sledger

Spanish_Vicente
On drive. There's a reason why "eat your heart out Ricky Ponting" is often uttered after someone executes it properly.
 
Burgey

Burgey

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Arachnodouche said:
Yeah especially so when you have to find gaps in the region. Marginally easier against ultra-aggressive field placements with no one in front of the wicket like how Aus used to have; even a semi-defensive block would fetch you runs, but having to drive through the ball with the middle of the bat, on your toes, leading elbow high as can be, piercing point and cover...now that's class.
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I remember Tendulkar playing some back foot straight and on drives to the Australian quicks on the 98 tour of India and I still think they’re the best cricket shots I’ve seen in 50 odd years watching the game. I don’t think you can coach the ability to stand tall and hit knee-to-hip high balls for four anywhere in front of cover with a vertical bat. It’s a god given gift.
 
S

subshakerz

Hall of Fame Member
Burgey said:
I remember Tendulkar playing some back foot straight and on drives to the Australian quicks on the 98 tour of India and I still think they’re the best cricket shots I’ve seen in 50 odd years watching the game. I don’t think you can coach the ability to stand tall and hit knee-to-hip high balls for four anywhere in front of cover with a vertical bat. It’s a god given gift.
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Here's a good example of his backfoot drive, albeit in his later years. Took the commentators' breath away.

 
A

Arachnodouche

International Captain
Burgey said:
I remember Tendulkar playing some back foot straight and on drives to the Australian quicks on the 98 tour of India and I still think they’re the best cricket shots I’ve seen in 50 odd years watching the game. I don’t think you can coach the ability to stand tall and hit knee-to-hip high balls for four anywhere in front of cover with a vertical bat. It’s a god given gift.
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Not a very Aussie thing to say, is it? Grind over gift(s) was my perception of Australian sporting culture. Also, you'd be surprised, and I'm sure not a little disgusted, with how Indian you sounded there :laugh:
 
Aritro

Aritro

International Regular
Burgey said:
I remember Tendulkar playing some back foot straight and on drives to the Australian quicks on the 98 tour of India and I still think they’re the best cricket shots I’ve seen in 50 odd years watching the game. I don’t think you can coach the ability to stand tall and hit knee-to-hip high balls for four anywhere in front of cover with a vertical bat. It’s a god given gift.
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I came in to say it was the back foot on-drive so here we are
 
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