Farming the Strike (Batting With the Tail)
Also known as: farm the strike, farming the strike, batting with the tail, batting with tailenders, protecting the tail, shielding a tail ender
To farm the strike with tailenders, try to face most of the balls yourself. Take boundaries or twos early in the over. Look for a single off the last ball or two so you keep the strike for the next over. That shields the weaker batter from the bowling.
Farming the strike means managing who faces. In an over of six balls, the set batter aims to face as many as possible. Early in the over, they turn down singles and look for fours, twos or dot balls. Near the end of the over, they look for a single so they keep the strike for the next one.
Captains respond by setting the field back early in the over to give away a single. Late in the over, they bring the field in to stop one. The set batter has to read this. Sometimes it is better to trust the tailender for a ball or two than to take a risky run.
The tailender also has a job. Back up well, run hard and call clearly. When on strike, defend with a straight bat and do not throw the wicket away. Good partnerships with the tail often decide close matches. Talk between overs about the plan and the field.
Tips by skill level
If you are the tailender, block straight and run hard. Your job is to give the set batter the strike back.
Track the ball count every over. The fifth and sixth balls are when the single matters most.
Example
The set batter blocks the first two balls with the field back. He refuses singles, hits a four off ball five, and pushes a single off the last ball to keep the strike.
Why it matters
Late-order runs can swing a match. Managing the strike lets your best batter score while protecting the weaker one.
Common mistakes
- Taking an easy single early in the over and exposing the tailender
- Missing the single off the last ball
- Refusing every run and letting the scoreboard stall
- Not agreeing the plan with your partner
Frequently asked questions
How do you farm the strike with tailenders?
Turn down singles early in the over and look for boundaries or twos. Near the end of the over, take a single to keep the strike. Agree the plan with your partner.
What does farming the strike mean in cricket?
It means a set batter tries to face most of the balls, usually to protect a weaker partner. They manage singles so they keep the strike at the end of each over.
Related terms
- Calling Between the WicketsMany coaches teach that the striker calls for balls hit in front of the wicket and the non-striker calls for balls behind square, where the striker cannot see. Use three clear words: "yes", "no" and "wait". It is a coaching convention, not a Law. Agree it with your partner before you bat.
- Batting Order and Batting RolesThe batting order is the sequence in which a team's batters come in. Openers face the new ball, the number 3 steadies or attacks, the middle order builds and finishes, and the lower order adds late runs. In limited-overs cricket, teams also name roles such as anchor, finisher and floater.
- Building an InningsBuild an innings in stages. Spend your first balls getting used to the pace and bounce, scoring mainly from singles and bad balls. Once you are set, widen your scoring shots and push the rate. After a milestone, reset and start again instead of relaxing.
- Batting PartnershipsPartnerships are important because a team scores runs in pairs and loses its innings one wicket at a time. A long partnership tires bowlers, pushes captains into defensive fields and makes scoring easier for both batters. A team that keeps losing quick wickets never builds that pressure.
- Finding Gaps in the FieldTo find gaps, look at the field before every ball and pick the space you will aim for. Then use the angle of the bat face and soft or firm hands to place the ball there. Hit along the ground into the space between fielders and run hard for the single.
Cricket analysis is in development
Motion Lab does not analyze this sport yet. Keep exploring the terms in this section.