Wagon Wheel, Pitch Map and Beehive
Also known as: wagon wheel, wagon wheel in cricket, pitch map, beehive chart, beehive in cricket, cricket wagon wheel chart, scoring chart in cricket
A wagon wheel is a chart of where a batter hit their scoring shots. Lines run from the pitch out to where each shot went. A pitch map shows where a bowler's balls landed on the pitch. A beehive shows where those balls passed the batter at the stumps.
These three charts answer different questions. The wagon wheel shows a batter's scoring areas, often coloured by runs. A wheel crowded on the leg side suggests a batter who scores mostly through midwicket and fine leg. Captains use that to set fields.
The pitch map is about the bowler's length and line. Each dot marks where a ball landed. A tight cluster just short of a good length means the bowler is consistent. A spread of dots means the bowler is still searching.
The beehive looks at the batter's end. It shows the height and line each ball reached as it passed the stumps. Together, a pitch map and a beehive show what a bowler is trying to do and how well they did it.
Tips by skill level
Ask your scorer or a parent to sketch where your runs went in your next match. Look for areas you never score in.
Compare your wagon wheel against pace and against spin. Many batters score in very different areas against each.
Example
A batter's wagon wheel shows almost no runs through the off side. The coach plans a net session on driving and cutting to open up that side of the field.
Why it matters
These charts turn a scorecard into a picture. They show your scoring strengths, the gaps in your game and the plans bowlers use against you.
Common mistakes
- Reading a wagon wheel without counting how many balls were faced
- Thinking a pitch map shows where the ball reached the batter
- Ignoring dot balls, which a wagon wheel does not show
- Drawing conclusions from one innings
Frequently asked questions
What is a wagon wheel in cricket?
It is a chart of a batter's scoring shots, with a line from the pitch to where each shot went. It shows the areas where a batter scores.
What is the difference between a pitch map and a beehive?
A pitch map shows where balls landed on the pitch. A beehive shows where those balls passed the batter at the stumps.
Sources
Related terms
- 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.
- Good LengthA good-length delivery is one that pitches at the spot that forces the batter to be uncertain whether to play off the front foot or the back foot — often the most testing length a bowler can hit.
- Line in Cricket (Off-Stump, Fourth-Stump and Leg-Stump Lines)Line describes how far across the pitch the ball is, from leg side to off side. Common lines are leg stump, middle stump, off stump, and the "fourth stump" and "fifth stump" lines outside off. The fourth stump line is an imaginary stump just outside off stump. Seam bowlers aim there to find edges.
- Filming Your BattingFilm your batting from two angles: side-on, square of the wicket, and front-on, from behind the bowler or behind you. Keep the camera still at about hip height, with your whole body, bat and stumps in frame. Film several balls of the same type, and stand behind the netting, never in the line of the ball.
- Batting Strike RateA batter's strike rate is the runs they score per 100 balls faced. Divide runs by balls faced and multiply by 100. Scoring 45 off 30 balls is a strike rate of 150. Balls faced include no balls but not wides.
Cricket analysis is in development
Motion Lab does not analyze this sport yet. Keep exploring the terms in this section.