The Late Cut in Cricket: The Shot Behind Point
What the late cut is, how to play it, why timing matters more than power, and why it is particularly effective against spin bowling behind the wicket on the off side.
The late cut is played against a ball that is short of length and outside the off stump, directing it very fine on the off side — behind point, between backward point and the keeper. It is 'late' because the batter plays the shot after the ball has almost passed them, guiding or deflecting it at the last moment. Timing and bat angle matter far more than power.
How to Play the Late Cut
The batter moves back and across toward off stump. As the ball passes the batter's body, the bat comes down in a late, angled motion — the bat face opens to point the face toward the fine third man region. The contact is made with wrists and a guiding motion rather than a full drive. The ball should travel close to the ground behind backward point.
When It Is Effective
The late cut is particularly effective against: off-spin bowling (the ball pitching outside off and spinning away creates the trajectory the late cut exploits), medium pace outside off stump, and against bowlers with no third man fielder positioned. In Tests, the late cut is a controlled scoring shot for batters looking to score without risk against accurate deliveries they cannot drive aggressively.
Late Cut vs Cut Shot
The cut shot (or square cut) is played at or before the ball's height, hitting it powerfully square on the off side — to point or through backward point with force. The late cut is played after the ball, with a guiding action, directing it behind point at less pace. The late cut requires less space to execute and is lower risk for the batter who places it correctly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the late cut shot in cricket?
The late cut is played against a short-of-length ball outside off stump, guiding the ball very fine on the off side — behind backward point, toward third man. It is 'late' because the bat comes down after the ball has almost passed the batter, with the face angled to direct the ball fine rather than hitting it with full power square.
When should I use the late cut?
Use the late cut when: there is no third man fielder (or they are up at square), the ball is pitched short outside off stump, and you have space behind the wicket to exploit. It is particularly effective against off-spin that spins away from a right-hander — the turn creates the trajectory that the late cut exploits.
Is the late cut risky?
The late cut is lower risk than the conventional cut shot because it guides the ball rather than hits through it. The main risk is an inside edge (if the ball is straighter than expected) or a thin outside edge to the keeper (if the bat angle is slightly wrong). Well-executed late cuts carry low dismissal risk and are hard to field.