Cricket Articles

How to play the leg glance

The leg glance is where the batsmen 'flicks' the ball from the stumps or the off-side, onto the leg side of the field. This shot is hard to play but with practice, it can become quite an easy shot to play. This shot isn't a powerful shot; however it is used as a run scoring shot. Generally the shot is used to turn the strike over, getting the singles. But it can also be used to score boundaries or two's as well. There are two ways to play the leg glance. You can either play it from the front foot or the back foot.

The front foot leg glance is played like a drive. This is usually played when the ball is pitched up reasonably full, hitting on the half volley. The other alternative is playing a back foot leg glance. This shot is played from the back foot, on or just slightly behind the crease.

The first step to playing a leg glance is to position the body behind the ball. For a full pitch ball, you stride out towards the pitch of the ball, like you would to play a drive. The head and the weight should be over the front leg, with eyes carefully watching the ball. For a short pitched delivery, the feet should step back and across the off-stump. The body should be positioned right behind the line of the ball. The head should be behind the line of the ball with eyes watching the ball, all the way onto the bat.

The front foot leg glance is played similar to a drive. The bat swings through facing the line of the ball. It is important to keep a high elbow through-out the shot. The ball should be played directly under the eyes. The batsmen's grip should have a strong top hand, with a relaxed bottom hand. The difference is when the ball strikes the cricket bat. Upon impact of the cricket ball, the bat needs to turn so that the angle once impacted on the bat is towards the leg side. This is achieved by flicking or rolling the wrists over.

The back foot leg glance is played like a back foot block shot, with the body positioned behind the ball. The difference is upon impact; the bat needs to be angled towards the leg side. This is done by the same way the front foot leg glance is played, with the wrists flicking or rolling over.

The front foot drive is more of a run scoring shot, where as the back foot leg glance is used to turn the strike over, picking up singles. These shots use the pace off the bowler's delivery, rather than creating power yourself.

Summary:

Practice
Position body behind the ball
Play the ball late
Watch the ball all the way onto the bat
Roll or flick the wrist over upon impact, angling the bat face towards the leg side.

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