Caught Bat-Pad Against Spin
Also known as: bat pad, bat-pad catch, caught bat pad, caught at short leg, bat and pad catch, popping up to short leg
You get caught bat-pad when the ball hits the bat and pad together and pops up to a close fielder, usually short leg or silly point. It mostly happens against spin when you push forward with hard hands. Another cause is the bat sitting ahead of the pad. Play with soft hands and keep the bat beside or just behind the pad.
A bat-pad catch starts with the ball turning or bouncing into the gap between bat and pad. It clips the edge, hits the pad and loops gently in the air. Short leg and silly point stand close for exactly this chance. Under Law 33, the catch counts if the delivery was not a no ball, the ball touched the bat and a fielder caught it before it touched the ground.
The main causes are hard hands and a half-forward position. A firm push makes the ball fly off the bat or pad. A bat held well in front of the pad also leaves a gap for the ball to deflect up. Being caught on the crease, neither fully forward nor fully back, makes it worse.
Fixes start with soft hands. Let the bottom hand relax so the ball drops at your feet. Get fully forward to smother the spin, or fully back to play it late. Keep the bat close to the pad, with the pad slightly behind it. Practise against spinners with fielders under the helmet so you get used to the pressure.
Tips by skill level
Against spin, hold the bat loosely with the bottom hand. Let the ball die near your feet.
Use your feet decisively. Fully forward to smother turn or fully back to play late both cut out the bat-pad chance.
Example
Facing an off-spinner, a batter pushes hard at a ball that turns in. It takes the inside edge, hits his pad and balloons to short leg.
Why it matters
Close catchers are a spinner's main weapon. Taking away the bat-pad chance makes the bowler change plans.
Common mistakes
- Pushing at spin with hard hands
- Playing half-forward instead of fully forward or back
- Letting the bat get well ahead of the pad
- Prodding at balls that could be left or played off the back foot
Frequently asked questions
Why do I get caught bat pad?
Usually you are pushing at spin with hard hands from a half-forward position. The ball clips bat and pad and pops up. Play with soft hands and commit fully forward or back.
Is a bat-pad catch out?
Yes, if it was a legal delivery that touched the bat and was caught before hitting the ground. It does not matter that it hit the pad too.
Sources
Related terms
- Soft Hands in BattingSoft hands means relaxing your grip at contact. The bat gives a little and the ball drops dead near your feet. It helps edges fall short of the slips and stops bat-pad catches against spin. Hard hands, pushing firmly at the ball, send edges flying.
- Playing Spin BowlingTo play spin bowling, watch the bowler's hand to read which way the ball will turn and pick up the length early. Be decisive with your feet. Go right forward to smother the spin at the pitch, or right back to play it late off the pitch. Keep your bat in front of your pad and score by playing with the turn.
- CaughtCaught is a way of being out in cricket. The batter is out when a fielder catches the ball before it touches the ground, after it has come off the bat or a glove on the hand holding the bat (Laws 33.1 and 5.6).
- Edges: Inside, Outside, Thick and LeadingAn edge is when the ball hits the side of the bat instead of the face. An outside edge flies towards the keeper and slips. An inside edge deflects towards your pad, stumps or fine leg. A thick edge takes a lot of the edge and a thin or feather edge barely touches it. A leading edge balloons up off the front edge.
- Off-SpinOff-spin is finger-spin bowling that turns the ball from off to leg, toward a right-handed batter. It uses the fingers, not the wrist, and its stock delivery is the off-break.
- StumpedA batter is out stumped if the wicket-keeper breaks the wicket while they are out of their ground and not attempting a run. No other fielder may be involved. You cannot be stumped off a no ball, but you can be stumped off a wide. Keep part of your bat or body grounded behind the popping crease.
Cricket analysis is in development
Motion Lab does not analyze this sport yet. Keep exploring the terms in this section.