The Pull Shot in Cricket — Technique, When to Play It and the Best Pull Shot Players
A guide to the pull shot: how batters pull short-pitched deliveries from off stump height onto the leg side, when to play it, and the greatest pull shot players in cricket.
What Is the Pull Shot?
The pull shot is a horizontal bat stroke played to a short-pitched delivery that rises to around waist or chest height on the off side. The batter pivots on the back foot, swings the bat in a horizontal arc, and hits the ball from the off side through or over the square leg and midwicket regions. It is one of the most attacking shots in cricket and, when timed correctly, can send a short ball to the boundary with great force.
When to Play It
The pull shot is most appropriate when a short-pitched delivery rises to around waist to chest height on or outside off stump, giving the batter time to rock back and swing through the ball. If the ball is too close to the body (tighter line) or rises too quickly toward the head (a proper bouncer), the batter should consider ducking or swaying out of the way. If the ball is too full — a short of a length delivery that stays low — the pull can still work but requires excellent timing. Reading the length of a short ball early is the key skill required.
The Hook vs the Pull
The pull shot and the hook shot are often confused. The pull is played to deliveries around waist to chest height, with the batter still inside the line of the ball. The hook is played to a delivery rising above chest height — a genuine bouncer — and requires the batter to sway back and under the ball to hook it fine on the leg side. The hook carries more risk because it is played from close to the body against a delivery specifically designed to test the batter's technique and temperament.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a pull shot and a hook shot?
A pull shot is played to a delivery rising to around waist or chest height, hit squarely across the pitch. A hook shot is played to a delivery rising above chest height (a bouncer), hooking the ball fine and around the corner on the leg side.
Who plays the best pull shot in modern cricket?
Rohit Sharma (India), David Warner (Australia) and Kane Williamson (New Zealand) are among the most celebrated modern pull shot players, though Rohit's pull shot against short-pitched bowling is particularly iconic.