Cricket Batting Stances: Open, Closed, and Everything Between
A batting stance is how a batsman positions their body at the crease before each delivery — feet, hips, shoulders, and head. Different stances suit different batsmen and different conditions; this guide covers the major stance types, their advantages and disadvantages, and the techniques of cricket's most distinctive stances.
A cricket batting stance is the initial position a batsman takes at the crease before the bowler delivers. The stance determines: which shots are naturally accessible, how quickly the batsman can move to play front-foot or back-foot shots, where the weight sits (forward or back), and how the head is positioned relative to the stumps. No single 'correct' stance exists — elite batsmen have used stances ranging from perfectly orthodox (Vijay Hazare, Ken Barrington) to dramatically open (Kevin Pietersen) or closed (Graeme Smith).
The Orthodox Stance
The orthodox stance (recommended by coaching textbooks) positions the batsman: side-on to the bowler (shoulder pointing toward the bowler), feet parallel to the crease and shoulder-width apart, weight evenly balanced or slightly front-heavy, bat grounded near the right toe (for right-handers), head level with eyes horizontal. From this position, the batsman can equally access front-foot shots (drives, sweeps) and back-foot shots (cuts, pulls). Virat Kohli's stance is near-perfect orthodox — contributing to his ability to play all shots on any pitch.
Open vs Closed Stances
An open stance (chest facing the bowler): provides excellent leg-side access and power; reduces off-side range (requires turning more to drive through cover); used by aggressive batsmen who target leg-side boundaries. A closed stance (chest facing away from the bowler, very side-on): provides excellent off-side drive and cut access; can restrict leg-side play; used by textbook drivers who favour the off side. Graeme Smith (left-hand) batted with an extremely closed stance, producing extraordinary cover and on-drives but limiting his pull and hook shots.
Trigger Movements
Modern batsmen often use 'trigger movements' — small movements made before the bowler delivers, to pre-set their weight or position for anticipated delivery types. Common triggers: a forward press (small step forward) to pre-load front-foot shots; a back-and-across movement (setting up for back-foot play against short deliveries). The trigger movement must be completed before the ball is bowled; a batsman who is mid-trigger when the ball arrives faces significant disadvantage — some deliveries (very short balls when pressing forward) can catch them in the wrong position.
Frequently asked questions
What is a batting stance in cricket?
A batting stance is the initial position a batsman takes at the crease before each delivery — covering foot placement, hip and shoulder orientation, weight distribution, and head position. The stance determines which shots are naturally accessible and how quickly the batsman can react to different ball types. No single correct stance exists; elite batsmen use stances ranging from perfectly orthodox to dramatically open or closed.
What is the difference between an open and closed batting stance?
An open stance has the chest facing the bowler — providing strong leg-side access and power but limiting off-side range. A closed stance has the chest facing away (very side-on to the bowler) — providing excellent off-side drives but limiting leg-side play. Most batsmen use a moderate stance between these extremes, adjusted based on their natural strengths.
What is a trigger movement in batting?
A trigger movement is a pre-delivery movement the batsman makes while the bowler runs in — typically a small forward press or back-and-across movement — to pre-set weight for anticipated ball types. It is a modern coaching technique to help batsmen begin weight transfer earlier. However, if the trigger movement is mistimed (leaving the batsman mid-movement when the ball arrives), it can backfire.