Back Foot Play in Cricket: How to Handle Short-Pitched Bowling
Back foot play allows batters to handle short-pitched deliveries, building a foundation of defence and attacking strokes including the cut, pull, and hook.
Back foot play refers to all batting strokes where the weight transfers to the back foot as the primary base. It is essential against short-pitched bowling — deliveries that bounce at chest height or above — and against good-length balls outside off stump that are not full enough to drive. A confident back foot game denies bowlers the option of bowling short with impunity.
Back Foot Defence
The back foot defence is played to a short-of-a-length delivery straight or slightly outside off stump. The batter pushes the back foot back and across toward the off stump, bringing the head in line with the ball, and presents a full bat face angled downward to smother the ball. The hands are soft — almost 'catching' the ball — to reduce the chance of an edge carrying to the slips.
Attacking Back Foot Strokes
The cut shot, played to a short, wide delivery outside off stump, is the primary attacking back foot stroke on the off side. The pull and hook shots address short deliveries on the leg side. Both involve the back foot pivoting, the bat coming through horizontally, and the ball being directed into the leg side or square. Top-order batters in Test cricket rely on these shots to punish bowlers who overpitch on the back foot.
When to Go Back vs Forward
Reading length early is the key skill. A delivery landing on or behind a good length invites the back foot. A ball landing in the half-volley or full zone invites the front foot. The decision must be made as the ball leaves the bowler's hand — too late a commitment leads to the batter being 'caught on the crease', which is neither fully back nor forward and is a common cause of dismissal at all levels.
Frequently asked questions
What is back foot play in cricket?
Back foot play involves transferring your weight onto the back foot to play deliveries that pitch short of a length. It includes defensive prods, cut shots, pull shots, and hook shots.
How do I improve my back foot play?
Practise moving back-and-across early to short-of-a-length deliveries in the nets. Focus on getting your head in line with the ball before playing the stroke, and build confidence with the cut and pull against throw-downs.