Cricket shots explained: all 22 strokes

Keeping it out

Forward defence

A step toward the ball with a straight, soft bat, meant only to stop it hitting the stumps or taking an edge.

In Cricket Red: Press W, or on touch simply touch without swiping. A controlled push is the safest shot when you are unsure.

Leave

Not playing at the ball at all, with the bat held out of the way. The right shot to anything that will miss the stumps.

In Cricket Red: Press L. Leave balls wide of off stump: if the umpire calls it wide, it is a run to you.

Drives: front foot, full ball

Straight drive

Hit back past the bowler with a full face of the bat. The purest shot in cricket, played to a full ball in line with the stumps.

In Cricket Red: Aim straight down the ground, along the ground.

Cover drive

Driven through the covers, on the off side, to a full ball outside off stump.

In Cricket Red: Aim between straight and square on the off side, along the ground.

On drive

Driven through mid-on to a full ball on the stumps or the pads.

In Cricket Red: Aim between straight and square on the leg side, along the ground.

Drive

The general front-foot attacking shot along the ground, when the ball is full enough to reach.

In Cricket Red: Aim anywhere in front of the wicket to a full ball, along the ground.

Inside-out drive

Made by stepping toward the leg side and hitting a ball on the stumps over or through the off side.

In Cricket Red: Aim at the off side to a ball on the stumps.

Back-foot strokes: short ball

Back-foot punch

A firm push off the back foot through the off side to a ball just short of a length.

In Cricket Red: Hold the back-foot key (Ctrl or Q) and aim at the off side, along the ground.

Cut

A horizontal-bat shot square on the off side to a short, wide ball.

In Cricket Red: Back foot, aim square on the off side.

Late cut

A delicate cut played very late, guiding the ball past the slips toward third man.

In Cricket Red: Back foot, aim fine behind the wicket on the off side.

Upper cut

A short ball outside off stump slashed over the slips and point, using its pace.

In Cricket Red: Back foot, aim behind square on the off side, in the air.

Pull

A horizontal-bat shot through the leg side to a short ball about chest height.

In Cricket Red: Back foot, aim square on the leg side to a short ball.

Hook

Like the pull, but to a ball at head height, often in the air behind square.

In Cricket Red: Back foot, aim square on the leg side to a bouncer.

Going over the top

Lofted straight

Hitting a full ball back over the bowler, the classic way to clear the rope.

In Cricket Red: Aim straight and swipe long, or press D.

Lofted over the leg side

A lofted hit through midwicket or long-on.

In Cricket Red: Aim at the leg side, in the air.

Lofted over the off side

A lofted hit over extra cover or long-off.

In Cricket Red: Aim at the off side, in the air.

Sweeps and improvised strokes

Sweep

Down on one knee, sweeping a full ball from a spinner round to square leg.

In Cricket Red: Tap the improvise key (Shift or E) first, then aim square on the leg side to a full ball.

Slog sweep

The attacking sweep, hit hard and in the air over midwicket.

In Cricket Red: Improvise, aim at the leg side, in the air.

Reverse sweep

A sweep played the other way round, taking the ball to the off side behind point.

In Cricket Red: Improvise, then aim square on the off side.

Paddle

A gentle sweep that helps the ball fine down the leg side.

In Cricket Red: Improvise, then aim fine on the leg side.

Ramp

Getting under a quick ball and helping it over the wicketkeeper, using the bowler's pace.

In Cricket Red: Improvise, then aim straight behind the wicket.

Off the pads

Leg glance

A turn of the wrists that deflects a ball on the pads fine down the leg side.

In Cricket Red: Aim fine on the leg side, along the ground, to a ball on your pads.

Why the same aim can be three different shots

In Cricket Red you choose the area and the power, and the game plays the stroke that fits the ball. Aim toward square leg and you sweep a full ball from a spinner, pull a short one at your ribs, and hook a bouncer. That is how real batting works: a batter decides where to hit, and the ball decides how.

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