Reverse Sweep
Also known as: reverse sweep
The reverse sweep is an attacking stroke where the batter kneels on the front knee and sweeps the ball to the off side. This means the mirror image of the conventional sweep, played in the opposite direction.
Typically deployed against spin bowling, the reverse sweep catches the field off-guard. This is because the batter repositions the hands and angles the bat to play the ball behind point on the off side instead of the expected leg side. The batter drops the front knee low, rotates the grip, and sweeps across the line. The stroke is high-risk. This means mistiming can result in an edge, a top edge caught, or LBW if the ball takes the inside edge. This means but when timed well it is almost impossible to field, especially if the spinner has set a leg-side field for the conventional sweep.
Only attempt the reverse sweep against a ball well outside off stump — the further outside off the ball is, the lower your LBW risk.
Practise varying your power level on the reverse sweep. As a result, you can place the ball precisely between the short third man and the deep point rather than hitting it hard at a fielder.
Example
Against a leg-spinner bowling to a packed leg-side field, the batter audaciously reverse-sweeps the ball past point for four.
Why it matters
The reverse sweep disrupts the bowler's field plan and scoring intent. SwingVantage's cricket analysis (in development) will study grip rotation and sweep angle to help batters develop this specialist stroke safely.
How it shows up on video
Correct technique shows the batter dropping the front knee toward the pitch, rotating the grip, and sweeping the bat horizontally across to the off side with a controlled arc, the ball exiting behind point. Errors appear as a failure to rotate the grip fully. This results in an awkward cross-bat push, or as an early commitment that leaves the batter exposed to a straight ball that skids on.
Common mistakes
- Failing to fully rotate the grip, causing an inefficient bat angle and a poor connection
- Committing to the stroke before reading the line and length, making the batter vulnerable to LBW or a leading edge
- Not getting the front knee low enough, restricting the swing arc and sending the ball in the air
- Playing the stroke against a ball on middle stump or leg, where LBW risk is highest
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
SwingVantage cricket analysis (currently in development) will model grip rotation and bat-face angle at contact to help batters learn the reverse sweep safely before using it in match conditions.
Related terms
- Sweep ShotThe sweep is a cross-bat shot played on one knee to a (usually spinning) good-length ball, sweeping it around to the leg side to counter turn and length.
- Slog SweepThe slog sweep is a powerful, high-risk batting stroke where the batter sweeps a short-pitched or good-length ball over deep mid-wicket, aiming to hit it out of the ground for six.
- Off-SpinOff-spin is a style of finger-spin bowling that turns the ball from off to leg. This means toward a right-handed batter. This means through finger action rather than wrist action, with the off-break as its stock delivery.
Put this into your swing
SwingVantage can spot this in your own swing — free to start.