The Glance and Flick on the Leg Side in Cricket

The glance and flick are two of the most graceful shots in batting, both played to deliveries around or on the body directed toward the leg side. They allow batters to score from deliveries that might otherwise have to be defended and are particularly valuable in limited-overs cricket where every ball is an opportunity.

The Leg Glance

The leg glance is played to a delivery on the leg stump or just outside, redirected with soft hands past fine leg or square leg. The batter does not swing the bat but rather presents the face at an angle to deflect the ball. Weight transfers forward as for a forward defensive, but the front foot moves across to leg stump and the bat face is angled to glance the ball fine. Minimal movement is required — the pace of the delivery does the work.

The Flick

The flick is played to a full delivery on or around the stumps, driven through the leg side with a rotational wrist motion. The batter plays the ball at the body and then flicks the wrists through at the moment of contact, redirecting the ball toward mid-wicket or mid-on. The flick requires more power than the glance and is used to drive full-length leg-side deliveries for boundaries.

Common Errors on the Leg Side

The most common error in glance and flick shots is playing with too much head movement — the head drifts to the off side when looking to play to leg. This misaligns the bat face and sends the ball toward square leg fielders or produces a miscue. Keep the head still over the line of the ball until contact is made, then rotate naturally through the follow-through.