Backlift in Cricket: How High Should Your Bat Go?
What the backlift is, why its height and direction matter, and how different backlift styles suit different batting approaches — from Tendulkar to Lara to Kohli.
The backlift is the upward movement of the bat before a stroke — the preparation phase that determines the power, direction and timing of every batting shot. It is the first movement a batter makes in response to seeing the delivery, and its height, angle and speed directly influence the stroke that follows. Understanding the backlift helps coaches diagnose batting faults and helps batters maximise bat speed.
Why the Backlift Matters
A higher backlift generates more bat speed and therefore more power — but it also takes more time to bring the bat down, creating a timing challenge against fast bowling. A lower backlift is quicker to play but generates less power. The angle of the backlift determines which shots come naturally: a backlift towards gully or point favours off-side strokes; a backlift towards slip or fine leg favours on-side play.
Standard vs Non-Standard Backlift
| Style | Direction | Batters | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic straight | Towards second slip | Cook, Dravid, Root | Balanced — works for all strokes |
| Point/gully | Towards cover or gully | Tendulkar, Lara, Kohli | Off-side strokes — cover drive |
| Fine leg / slip | Towards fine leg | Jayawardene, Smith (Graeme) | On-side strokes |
| Very high | Almost vertical | Early Pietersen, Sehwag | Maximum power — timing critical |
| Low / minimal | Just off the ground | Bradman (early), de Villiers | Quick reactions, T20 suited |
How to Find Your Natural Backlift
- Stand in front of a mirror in your batting stance.
- Pick up the bat naturally as if beginning a drive — do not think, just move.
- Observe the angle: where does the bat naturally go? Towards gully? Towards the stumps?
- This is your natural backlift — coaches should adjust it only if it is causing consistent faults.
- Practice lifting and re-grooving it until it becomes an automatic, pre-delivery habit.
Backlift Faults and Fixes
- Too high, too slow: slowing the bat down on the way up, leaving no time to bring it down at pace — fix: shorten the backlift for quicker bowling.
- Angled incorrectly: a backlift pointing towards square leg encourages cross-bat strokes on a good length — fix: direct it towards the stumps or second slip.
- No backlift: some batters barely lift the bat, relying on hands and wrists for all power — works in T20 but limits power in Test cricket.
- Looping backlift: some batters loop the bat outside the line on the way up — can be fine if consistent, but creates a timing window against extreme pace.
Famous Backlifts
- Brian Lara: extraordinarily high and looping backlift that generated massive bat speed — the signature of his style.
- Sachin Tendulkar: points towards gully, slightly angled — generated immense power in the off-side despite the unorthodox angle.
- Virat Kohli: straight backlift towards second slip, very organised — enables a wide range of strokes.
- AB de Villiers: minimal backlift that he compensated with elite hand speed — allowed him to improvise unique strokes.
Frequently asked questions
How high should a cricket backlift be?
There is no single correct height — it depends on your game. Higher backlifts generate more power but slow the downswing. A backlift that reaches the waist-to-shoulder range works well for most batters facing pace and spin.
Does a high backlift cause you to edge more?
Not necessarily — it depends on the angle and the bat's path through the ball. A high backlift that comes down straight (on the line of the ball) reduces edge risk. A looping backlift that swings across the line increases it.
Should you practise your backlift?
Yes — shadow batting is the best method. Practise picking up the bat repeatedly in front of a mirror, ensuring consistency between your intended and actual backlift angle.