Play and Miss (Beaten Outside Off)
Also known as: play and miss, playing and missing, beaten outside off, beaten outside off stump, beat the bat, beaten on the outside edge
Beaten outside off means the batter played at a ball outside off stump and missed it, often by a whisker past the outside edge. It is also called a play and miss. It usually comes from a ball that swings or seams away, or from chasing a ball wide of the body.
A play and miss is a near miss. The batter tried to hit the ball and made no contact. If the ball had found the edge, it could have been caught by the keeper or slips. That is why bowlers celebrate beating the bat.
One play and miss can be bad luck against a good ball. A pattern points to a fault. Common causes are pushing hard at the ball with the hands away from the body, not knowing where off stump is, or committing too early.
The fix starts with judgment. Know your off stump and leave more balls in the corridor. When you do play, let the ball come to you and play close to your body with soft hands.
Tips by skill level
In the nets, ask for balls just outside off stump and practise leaving the ones you cannot drive.
Count your plays and misses in a session on video. If most come from full balls, your trigger may be committing you too early.
Example
A full ball swings late. The batter drives, misses by a centimetre and the ball thuds into the keeper's gloves.
Why it matters
Each play and miss is a chance you gave the bowler. Cutting them down keeps you in for longer.
Common mistakes
- Driving at wide balls early in an innings
- Playing with the hands far from the body
- Not knowing where off stump is
- Getting angry after being beaten and swinging harder
Frequently asked questions
What does beaten outside off mean?
It means the batter played at a ball outside off stump and missed it, usually just past the outside edge.
Why do I keep playing and missing?
Usually you are playing at balls you could leave, or pushing at them away from your body. Know your off stump and play late, close to your pads.
Sources
Related terms
- 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.
- Nicking Off (Edging Behind)Nicking off is edging a ball outside off stump to the wicket-keeper or slips. It usually comes from playing at balls you could leave, pushing at the ball with hard hands or reaching away from your body. Know your off stump, play late under your eyes with soft hands and leave anything you do not need to play.
- Leaving the BallLeaving the ball means choosing not to play at a delivery and lifting your bat and hands up out of its path. As a result, it goes through to the keeper. Leave balls you judge will miss the stumps, usually those wide of off stump or bouncing over the top. Move your feet into position first, then lift the bat high and keep watching the ball until it passes you.
- Corridor of UncertaintyThe corridor of uncertainty is a narrow line just outside off stump where a batter is unsure whether to play or leave. It is about line, not length. Bowlers aim there to find the edge. Batters handle it by knowing their off stump and playing late with soft hands.
- False Shot and Control PercentageControl percentage is the share of balls on which a batter is judged to be in control of their shot. The test is whether the ball went where the batter meant it to. A false shot is a ball the batter does not control, such as an edge or a play and miss. False shot percentage is the share of balls where that happens.
Cricket analysis is in development
Motion Lab does not analyze this sport yet. Keep exploring the terms in this section.