Over-Striding and Lunging When Batting
Also known as: overstriding in cricket, over striding when driving, overstriding batting, lunging at the ball when driving, front foot stride too long, big front foot stride
You are over-striding if your front foot lands so far down the pitch that your head stays behind it and your weight is stuck between your feet. You then lunge with the arms and lose balance. A good drive has the head over the front knee, with the stride matched to the length of the ball.
A front-foot stride should take your head towards the ball. The foot lands roughly where the ball pitches, or as close as the length allows. When the stride is too long, the foot gets ahead of the head. The body is left stretched between both feet.
That causes several problems. The weight cannot transfer through the shot, so drives lack power. The bat has to reach for the ball and often comes across the line. Against spin, a long stride commits you too early and you cannot adjust to turn. It can also leave you out of your ground for a stumping. Against pace, a stride too far forward makes the short ball hard to handle.
To check, pause a video at contact. Your head should be over or just in front of your front knee. The front knee should be bent and your back leg relaxed. If your head is behind the front foot, shorten the stride. Let your head lead and your foot follow to where the ball is.
Tips by skill level
Practise driving with your head over your front knee at the finish. Hold the finish for two seconds to feel the balance.
Film from side-on. Compare stride length to the ball's length. A full ball needs a bigger stride than a good-length ball.
Example
A batter keeps edging drives to slip. Video shows her front foot landing a long way down the pitch with her head behind it. She shortens her stride, leads with her head and starts middling the ball.
Why it matters
Balance at contact decides control and power. A stride that matches the ball keeps your head over the shot and your bat straight.
Common mistakes
- Planting a long stride before seeing the length
- Leading with the foot instead of the head
- Stretching for wide balls rather than leaving them
- Locking the front knee at contact
Frequently asked questions
Am I overstriding when I drive?
Check a video at contact. If your head is behind your front foot and your weight is stuck between your feet, you are over-striding. Your head should be over your front knee.
Is a big front foot stride good in cricket?
Only if the ball is full enough. The stride should match the length so your head stays over the ball. Too long a stride makes you lunge and lose balance.
Related terms
- FootworkFootwork in cricket batting is moving the feet into the best position to play each delivery. Moving quickly and correctly to the pitch of the ball is the basis of all good batting.
- Weight TransferWeight transfer in batting is the movement of the batter's bodyweight from back foot to front foot (or vice versa) as the stroke is executed, generating power and setting up correct balance through impact.
- Head PositionHead position in batting refers to where and how still the batter's head is during the stroke — keeping the head level, forward-leaning, and over the ball is a universal marker of quality technique.
- Premeditation (Planting the Front Foot Early)Premeditation means deciding your shot or foot movement before you have seen the ball. Planting the front foot early is the classic example. It leaves you stuck forward to a short ball or across the line to a straight one. Read the length first, then move.
- DriveIn cricket, a drive is an attacking stroke that sends a full-length ball along the ground in front of the wicket. It uses a straight, full swing of the bat and is unlike a golf drive.
Cricket analysis is in development
Motion Lab does not analyze this sport yet. Keep exploring the terms in this section.