A brief summary of the batting backlift technique in cricket

Background

Cricket batting is an incredibly complex motor task that requires the batsman to overcome, at times, highly challenging spatial and temporal constraints to effectively and successfully hit the ball (Noorbhai & Noakes, 2019). The batting technique in cricket consists of various elements such as the grip, stance, backlift, downswing, impact with the ball and follow through. Whilst there has been an extensive amount of research into these batting elements, there is little research specifically on the backlift technique (Noorbhai & Noakes, 2015). The emerging scientific and coaching literature examining the batting backlift technique (BBT) is useful in both informing and interpreting the current consensus on batting methods (Noorbhai & Noakes, 2019). Therefore, this piece aims to provide a brief summary of research conducted on the batting backlift technique (BBT) in cricket.

Studies

The first study investigated the BBT of the most successful batsmen (n = 65) in the last 120 years as well as players in the Indian Premier League (IPL) (n = 30). It was found that these batsmen did not conform to the conventional cricket coaching method that advocates a straight batting backlift technique (SBBT). Instead, 77% of successful batsmen (Noorbhai & Noakes, 2016a) and 90% of IPL batsmen (Noorbhai, 2020) employed a lateral batting backlift technique (LBBT), in which they lifted their bats in the direction of second slip or beyond with the bat face towards the off-side. Using this technique, both the toe of the bat and face of the bat points directly towards the off-side (usually between slips and point). The number of players using the LBBT was significantly greater than those using the SBBT. Given these findings, it was fundamental to determine whether this finding was similar at other levels of cricket.

The second study subsequently employed biomechanical and video analyses to evaluate the BBT of semi-professional, professional and international cricketers (n = 155) from South Africa and the United Kingdom. The backlift of these batsmen were then compared to their career statistics. It was found that a LBBT is more prevalent at the highest levels of the professional game and a likely contributor factor for successful batting at the highest level (p<0.05) (Noorbhai & Noakes, 2019). The LBBT was also found to positively affect other components of the batting technique, such as the stance and scoring areas (Noorbhai & Noakes, 2019). It was later important to investigate the BBT among the lower levels of cricket (junior and adolescent cricketers).

The third study consisted of an intervention study that employed a biomechanical analysis of coached and uncoached cricketers (n = 80). It was found that more than 70% of uncoached cricketers adopted a LBBT, whereas more than 70% of coached cricketers adopted the SBBT (Noorbhai & Noakes, 2016b). Having found that the LBBT is a likely contributing factor for past and current successful batsmen, it was then important to understand what BBT cricket coaches were teaching at various proficiency levels.

The fourth study explored the teachings of the BBT among international cricket coaches (n = 161) using a mixed-methods approach through an online evaluation survey. This study was able to show that a majority of cricket coaches do teach what is advocated in conventional coaching manuals and mostly coach the SBBT as opposed to the LBBT at various levels of the game (Noorbhai & Noakes, 2018). There are a considerable number of coaching books and various archive sources that advocate that the backlift should be directed straight backwards towards the middle stump in front of the wicket keeper. With modern coaching manuals published after 2009, it has become a norm for batsmen to lift the bat in the direction of the slips (Noorbhai & Noakes, 2019b). Expert coaches have frequently supported this notion, supporting the supposition that there is no necessarily ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to bat, and that many of the greater players have exhibited techniques not necessarily commensurate with those recommended in coaching manuals (Noorbhai, 2017). For example, Sir Donald Bradman exhibited a highly unique ‘rotary’ technique, which is contrary to coaching convention, and is yet to be replicated (Noorbhai, 2020).

In the fifth and sixth studies, these studies further described two innovative coaching tools that could improve and assist with the coaching of the LBBT. Firstly, a novel coaching cricket bat was investigated through a pilot and intervention study. In the pilot group, cricketers using the coaching bat scored approximately one more run per ball or an average of approximately three more runs in total when using the coaching bat than the normal bat. In the intervention study, the experimental group scored double the total number of runs (an additional 16 runs) and an average of approximately three more runs per player in the post-match than in the pre-match, which showed a large effect. The coaching cricket bat might be used to coach young cricket players to hit the ball more effectively as well as how to adopt a more LBBT (Noorbhai et al., 2016c). Secondly, a mobile application was developed, which could be used by players, coaches and scientists to analyse and improve the BBT among cricketers at all levels (Noorbhai et al., 2016d).

Summary

It has been shown that the LBBT is a likely contributing factor to successful batsmanship at all levels of cricket ability (junior cricketers, adolescent cricketers, semi-professional cricketers, professional cricketers, international cricketers and former elite/successful cricketers). Coaching a LBBT to young batsman may be challenging, and therefore, a coaching cricket bat has been developed and has shown to be a promising training aid for coaching the LBBT to young cricketers.

Way forward for future research

Further research (particularly, in-depth biomechanical investigations) and questions need to be answered and investigated in the following areas:

1.         Qualitative research studies need to be conducted to evaluate the teachings of cricket coaches for other elements of the batting technique (grip, stance, downswing, impact with the ball and follow-through).

2.         The batting backlift technique in female cricket: Is it different to the practice of male cricket? If so, what do women do differently?

3.         The grip of a batsman is key and it is integral to investigate the relationship/association of grip techniques with the BBT.

4.         The fields of psychology, morphology and physiology also have an important place in determining the success of cricket players. Previous studies have shown that the brain is a key regulator for human motion and abstract movements. A key question to address is: how the brain has an anticipatory effect on the backlift or subsequent movements of a batsman?

5.         Is there a reduced risk of injury if batsmen adopt more of a LBBT instead of a SBBT, over a long-term period?

6.         What are the anthropometrical and fitness differences between batsmen who use either a LBBT or SBBT?

The above areas and questions would provide additional insights into the associated movements with the backlift as well as further understanding other movements and components of the cricket batting technique.

References

1. Noorbhai, M. H., & Noakes, T. D. (2019). The lateral batting backlift technique: is it a contributing factor to success for professional cricket players at the highest level?. South African Journal of Sports Medicine, 31(1), 1-9.

2. Noorbhai, M. H., & Noakes, T. D. (2015). Advances in cricket in the 21st century: science, performance and technology. African Journal for Physical Health Education, Recreation and Dance, 21(4.2), 1310-1320.

3. Noorbhai, M. H., & Noakes, T. D. (2016a). A descriptive analysis of batting backlift techniques in cricket: Does the practice of elite cricketers follow the theory?. Journal of Sports Sciences, 34(20), 1930-1940.

4. Noorbhai, H. (2020). The backlift techniques of cricketers in the Indian Premier League: batting implications for the shorter format. International Sports Studies, 42 (1), 47-60

5. Noorbhai, H., & Noakes, T. D. (2016b). An analysis of batting backlift techniques among coached and uncoached cricket batsmen. South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation, 38(3), 143-161.

6. Noorbhai, M. H., & Noakes, T. D. (2018). An evaluation of the coaching methods of the batting backlift technique in cricket. Journal of Qualitative Research in Sports Studies, 12(1), 35-56.

7. Noorbhai, H., & Noakes, T. (2019b). Coaching implications of the lateral batting backlift technique in men’s cricket: a discussion and food for thought. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 5(1), e000494.

8. Noorbhai, M. H. (2017). The batting backlift technique in cricket (Doctoral dissertation, University of Cape Town).

9. Noorbhai, H. (2020). A comparative analysis of Donald Bradman and Steven Smith: what are their secrets?. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 6(1).

10. Noorbhai, M. H., Woolmer, R. C., & Noakes, T. D. (2016c). Novel coaching cricket bat: can it be used to enhance the backlift and performance of junior cricket batsmen?. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 2(1).

11. Noorbhai, H., Chhaya, M. M. A., & Noakes, T. (2016d). The use of a smartphone based mobile application for analysing the batting backlift technique in cricket. Cogent Medicine, 3(1), 1214338.