Playing the Ball Late
Also known as: playing late, play the ball late, playing under the eyes, play the ball under your eyes, letting the ball come to you, playing the ball late
Playing the ball late means meeting it close to your body, under your eyes, instead of reaching out in front for it. Your feet and backlift still move early. Only the contact happens late. It gives swing and seam less chance to beat you. It also keeps any edges soft.
Late does not mean slow or rushed. The batter reads the ball from the hand, moves the feet and gets into position early. Then they wait. The bat meets the ball when it is beneath the head and level with the front pad. A coach saying "play under your eyes" means the same thing.
There are three reasons it works. First, the ball has finished moving off the pitch by the time you hit it. Second, contact under the eyes means the head is over the ball. That keeps drives on the ground. Third, a ball met close to the body comes off softer hands. An edge is more likely to fall short of the slips.
The opposite habit is pushing at the ball in front of the body. It often starts with a hurried or overlong stride. It also starts when you want to hit the ball hard. The hands go out to the ball and the bat face is exposed. In white-ball cricket, batters still play late on most balls. The exceptions are shots where they choose to hit through the line early, such as a lofted drive.
Tips by skill level
In throwdowns, try to hit the ball when it is level with your front pad. Freeze the finish and check your head is over the ball.
Check your contact point on side-on video. If it drifts further in front against swing, shorten your stride and let the ball come.
Example
The batter presses forward to a full ball that is swinging away. She waits until it is level with her front pad, then plays it with soft hands. A thick edge drops short of second slip.
Why it matters
Reaching for the ball causes many edges against swing and seam. Playing late is the habit that cuts them down.
Common mistakes
- Pushing the hands out in front of the front pad
- Moving the feet late as well as the bat
- Lunging at the ball with an overlong stride and no balance
- Thinking "late" means waiting to decide instead of deciding early
Frequently asked questions
What does play the ball late mean in cricket?
It means hitting the ball close to your body, under your eyes, instead of reaching out in front. Your feet still move early. Only the contact is late.
How do I play the ball later?
Decide early and get your feet in position, then wait. Keep a soft bottom hand and let the ball come to you. Aim to make contact when the ball is level with your front pad.
Does playing late mean swinging late?
No. Late contact comes from moving early and waiting, not from a rushed swing. Your feet and backlift should be ready before the ball pitches.
Related terms
- Playing Swing and Seam BowlingTo play swing and seam bowling, know where your off stump is and leave balls you do not need to play. Watch the seam and shine in the bowler's hand, then play late under your eyes with a straight bat and soft hands. Let the ball come to you instead of reaching for it.
- 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.
- 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.
- Timing the BallTiming the ball means meeting it with the middle of the bat at the right moment. The bat face should point where you want the ball to go. Keep your head still and over the ball, let it come under your eyes and swing smoothly through it. A well-timed shot travels further than the effort behind it suggests.
- 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.
- Front-Foot DefenceThe front-foot defence is a defensive batting stroke where the batter strides forward and blocks a good-length ball with a straight, angled bat to keep it down and safe.
Cricket analysis is in development
Motion Lab does not analyze this sport yet. Keep exploring the terms in this section.