The reverse sweep is an advanced cricket shot where the batter switches grip or stance to sweep the ball in the opposite direction. It’s typically used against spinners to surprise fielders and manipulate gaps in the field for runs.
The reverse sweep
In cricket, a reverse sweep is a cross-batted sweep shot played in the opposite direction as more than just a regular sweep. Instead of sweeping towards the square leg, the ball is brushed to the offside, towards the backward point or third man. It has become a key component of every batsman’s repertoire in the modern game.
If you are AB De Villiers, the shot can be used in all three formats and effectively deals with spinners and even pacers.
According to Wikipedia, it was invented by Pakistani batter Mushtaq Mohammad in the 1970s, while Mushtaq’s brother Hanif Mohammad is sometimes cited as the creator. Bob Woolmer, a cricket coach, is credited with pioneering the stroke. Although prominent cricketers such as Glenn Maxwell, ABD, and Eoin Morgan have used these unconventional yet effective shots, their inception dates back to the 1970s.
Former England cricketer Mike Gatting infamously played this shot and lost his wicket while pursuing a target against Australia in the 1987 Reliance World Cup final, costing his country their first ICC championship. Functioning this shot demands tenacity, focus, and a strong foundation. With respect to the unconventional nature of hand and body position, generating a great deal of force behind such a reverse sweep is pretty difficult; in many circumstances, the intent is to glance or cut the ball to the back leg area.
The reverse sweep is a great boundary-scoring option and a terrific tactic to influence where the opposing fielders are positioned. As with the sweep shot, maintain your head straight over your front knee and your arms outstretched.
How to play the reverse sweep: Step by step
The sweep and reverse sweep are cross-batted strokes that should be played to slow offerings that are not too long or overly full. Allow the ball to be dropped before playing the traditional sweep shot. The sweep shot carries a high level of risk. Avoid using the sweep and reverse sweep early in the game, especially against straight deliveries.
Step 1: To remain in a balanced stance
Body balance is one of the most important aspects of batting. Body
equilibrium is everything and is prevalent in every sport. A batter in a
balanced stance needs a comfortable base that is neither too broad nor too
narrow. Hold the bat at the outer edge of the bat while keeping focused and maintaining proper head position.
Step 2: Pre-empt the length
The length and line of the ball must be calculated based on the bowler’s previous delivery. It is typically performed with a full-pitched delivery in sync with off-stump. This is not a completely premeditated shot.
Step 3: Gripping and positioning
The batter must move his front foot to the line of the bat while remaining low, similar to a sweep stroke. The grip on the bat will vary as he brings his bat out in front over and over his front knee, as you need to shift your bottom hand’s grip around the handle just enough so the blade is facing off-side.
Step 4: Executing the shot
Swing the bat from the leg side to the off-side with your head over your front knee, gently shutting the face of the bat to keep the ball grounded.
Bowlers, fielders, and the fielding captain have nightmares due to the reverse sweep. It disrupts a bowler’s line and length, and there is no means of making up for it. As a corollary, a right-hander should play it like a left-hander, and vice versa. However, there is simply a shift in stance, not grip, as this would result in a switch hit, which is even more annoying for the fielding team. In this era of Cricket, hitting the ball has a lot more value as batsmen are more daring. Eoin Morgan, Joe Root, Glenn Maxwell, and AB de Villiers were the most fervent proponents of this shot.
Play the reverse sweep in the same posture as the classical sweep. Bring your blade down and across from the leg side to the off side this time, trying to hit the ball through the gully. This shot needs exceptional synchronization and execution. You must twist the bat so that the bat face faces the opposite side at the point of impact without changing your grip.
Attempting to hit the ball too forcefully is not a smart option. While you need to limit risk as much as possible, impeccable timing and technique are more beneficial and efficient. Playing the shot to either too full or short deliveries is a bad idea; thus, a good length evaluation is vital.