Back Defensive Shot in Cricket
How to play the back defensive shot — the correct technique for defending short-pitched balls that rise steeply toward the batsman's body.
The back defensive is played to a ball pitched short that rises sharply — the batsman has no room to drive forward and instead rocks back to defend from deep in the crease. It is the partner of the forward defensive and an equally important weapon against pace and spin bowling.
When to Play the Back Defensive
- Against a short-of-a-length ball rising toward the body.
- When there is no room to drive and the ball is threatening the stumps.
- On fast or bouncy pitches against high-class pace bowling.
- Against spin bowling that is too short to drive and too straight to leave.
How to Play It
- Transfer weight onto the back foot — step back and slightly toward the stumps.
- Free the arms by creating space between the body and the bat.
- Bring the bat down firmly to meet the ball at the top of its bounce.
- Keep the bat face angled downward — ball must hit the ground.
- Soft hands at impact.
- Head stays still — eyes watch the ball all the way.
Back Defensive vs Forward Defensive
| Feature | Forward defensive | Back defensive |
|---|---|---|
| Ball length | Full / good length | Short / short of a length |
| Foot movement | Forward stride | Back and across |
| Contact point | Just in front of front pad | Higher — at chest/waist height |
| Head position | Over front knee | Behind the line of the ball |
| Main risk if done wrong | Edge off front foot | Glove / body blow / top edge |
Frequently asked questions
What happens if you don't go back far enough?
The arms become cramped — the ball hits the shoulder of the bat or the glove, producing a top-edge or a catch to short leg. Cramped defence is one of the most common ways Test batsmen are dismissed against pace.
Is the back defensive different on a slow pitch?
Yes — on a slow pitch the ball stays low, so the contact point is below the hip. On a fast pitch it rises quickly, making the contact point higher and the bat position more important.