If you are an explosive batter just like the great Herschelle Gibbs, the upper cut is a shot you must learn to perfect. We hope you enjoyed the last post about the tricky flick shot. Moving to today’s blog, we learn the legendary upper cut, which is a tough shot to execute. Let’s get started!

Playing an exquisite cricket shot as an aspiring batter requires patience, consistent practise and repetitions. No one can become or play like the great Herschelle Gibbs just after a single practise session. Irrespective of the name of the stroke, ensure that your technique is spot-on. The last blog post about the flick shot was a bit challenging because the focus was on the power of your wrists and the technique more than the shot itself.

As for today’s post, let’s dive into mastering the upper cut. Not in boxing, but in cricket. Generally, the upper cut is for deliveries that are pitched short. Now, when you plan to play the upper cut, ensure you read the pitch and bounce of the wicket. Another thing to remember is that playing the upper cut when you’re facing a spin bowler is not ideal because the ball doesn’t bounce as much after the first bounce.

Now, for the technique, practise a balanced stance and have a relaxed posture. As the bowler arrives at the crease, keep your eyes level on the ball. Generally, when the ball is pitched short, opt for the upper cut. Now, there are two ways of playing the upper cut. For a normal short-pitched delivery, move across the crease, and guide the ball above and behind the wicket keeper and the inner circle. Ensure to have a smooth follow through so you don’t lose balance after the shot is played.

On the other hand, if you notice the ball pitched short, outside the off stump, the trick is to shift your weight on the back foot and guide the ball above and behind the wicket keeper or the slip fielder. Always remember to open the full face of the bat. Keep practising to get your technique right. For the next post, we delve into perfecting the switch hit.