Where you bowl to the batter generally determines where they can hit the ball on the field.
So if you know where you are going to bowl in relation to the batter’s body.
We have a good idea where the batter is going to hit the ball.
This allows us to position the field easier.
Look at this diagram below…
You can see we have drawn a 3 x 3 grid.
The 3 vertical sections represent the height of the ball (length/bounce).
And the horizontal sections represent the direction (line) of the ball.
Remember, these grids are set for when the ball reaches the batter.
So let’s break down each section, and see where the batter may hit each ball.
Each section will be broken down into the type of ball that is bowled.
And where the batter is likely to hit the ball on the field.
Legend:
GREEN = high chance of ball being hit there
YELLOW= medium chance of ball being hit there
RED = low chance of ball being hit there.
Section: Top Left (Short and Wide)
Height = Chest and above
Length = Short
Direction = Wide of body
Line = 5th Stump and wider
High Chance of hitting the ball down to third man, or through the point/cover region.
Medium Chance of hitting the ball towards extra cover, straight or through mid wicket with a horizontal bat.
Low Chance of hitting the ball down to fine leg or around to square leg.
Section: Middle Left (Good Length but Wide)
Height = Top of pad to chest
Length = Good to Short
Direction = Wide of body
Line = 5th Stump and wider
High Chance of hitting the ball down to third man, or through the point/cover region. As well as hitting a baseball hit through mid wicket.
Medium Chance of hitting the ball towards extra cover & straight.
Low Chance of hitting the ball down to fine leg or around to square leg.
Section: Lower Left (Full and Wide)
Height = Top of pad to ground
Length = Good to Full
Direction = Wide of body
Line = 5th Stump and wider
High Chance of hitting the ball down to third man, all the way around to mid on.
Medium Chance of hitting the ball towards mid wicket.
Low Chance of hitting the ball down to fine leg or around to square leg.
Section: Top Centre (Short and Straight)
Height = Chest and above
Length = Short
Direction = At head/chest
Line = Straight (4th/Off/Middle Stump)
High Chance of hitting the ball from fine leg to mid wicket.
Medium Chance of hitting the ball past the keeper.
Low Chance of hitting the ball from third man to mid wicket.
Section: Middle Centre (Good length and Straight)
Height = Top of pad to chest
Length = Good to Short
Direction = Inline with body
Line = Straight (4th/Off/Middle Stump)
High Chance of hitting the ball to the leg side from square leg to mid on with either a vertical or horizontal bat.
Medium Chance of getting the ball down to third man, or hitting the ball straight down the ground with a vertical bat.
Low Chance of hitting the ball through cover point/cover region, as well as down to fine leg.
Section: Low Centre (Full and Straight)
Height = Top of pad to ground
Length = Good to Full
Direction = Just wide of legs
Line = Straight (4th/Off/Middle Stump)
High Chance of hitting the ball through extra cover and straight down the ground, and dragging the ball across to the leg side around to deep backward square leg.
Medium Chance of getting the ball down to third man and fine leg using a ramp/scoop. As well as playing a reverse sweep through the point region.
Low Chance of hitting the ball through point/cover region.
Section: Top Right (Short and Down Leg)
Height = Chest and above
Length = Short
Direction = At shoulder/ribs
Line = Leg stump and down leg
High Chance of hitting the ball down to fine leg and around to deep square leg.
Medium Chance of getting the ball in front of square leg and through mid wicket.
Low Chance of hitting the ball through third man all the way around to mid on.
Section: Centre Right (Good length but Down Leg)
Height = Top of pad to chest
Length = Good to Short
Direction = At body
Line = Leg stump and down leg
High Chance of hitting the ball down to fine leg and around to deep mid wicket.
Medium Chance of hitting the ball down to mid on and straight mid wicket.
Low Chance of hitting the ball through third man all the way around to straight down the ground.
Section: Low Right (Full but on legs)
Height = Top of pad to ground
Length = Good to Full
Direction = At pads
Line = Leg stump and down leg
High Chance of hitting the ball down to fine leg and around to deep mid wicket.
Medium Chance of hitting the ball down to mid on and straight mid wicket. And also to third man/point if the batter plays a reverse sweep.
Low Chance of hitting the ball through forward point/cover region and to mid off.
Remember that these hitting areas are in relation to the batter’s body when they try to hit the ball.
You could bowl the perfect ball outside off stump (to get hit to off side), and the batter moves across their stumps to make the ball in line with their body, which means they can hit the ball into the leg side easier.
This is the game.
The battle between batter and bowler, playing cat and mouse.