http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Tendulkar-c2556 - the perfect role model - Part 2 - Opinion
Continued from Part 1...
Tendulkar’s concentration stems from the fact that his eyes are always low and level. This is a grand example of stern concentration which is paramount for any batsman. Tendulkar is also known to watch the delivery from the bowler’s arm, which helps him
stay a step ahead. His focus and concentration are traits youngsters should look to adopt.
Then comes his defense, which is as impregnable as the Great Wall of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/China-c40996. Tendulkar’s defensive strokes are marked by hitting the ball square, off the meat of the blade on most occasions, and in the process, presenting the full face of the bat. His bottom
hand grip is so strong that even thunderbolts from fast bowlers such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shoaib-Akhtar-c90080 were dismissed by the little genius, for boundaries by simply defending the ball. The fact that he has a defensive technique which is unparalleled by most modern
batsmen, is one of the reasons as to why he boasts an array of prodigious front foot strokes.
Those who have an undue preference to play straight down the ground through the covers or off the legs, Tendulkar’s technique is simply the best. If one masters the defensive technique, then all that one needs to do is push the ball harder down the ground
to ensure that the ball whistles past the bowler. For this to be pulled off with regularity, it is important to note that the bat needs to be held firmly and the initial movement for the batsman should be forward. By pressing forward, one allows strokes which
are in the hitting zone, to be played far more effectively.
The pressing forward technique is also effective for playing the leg glance as well. Most of Tendulkar’s flicks off the pads for boundaries are characterized by the initial prod forward and then an adjustment off the face of the bat to guide it through the
leg side. With eyes locked on the ball, any in swingers could be eased through the leg side with little or no fuss by young players. Many batsmen such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 manage to play some of the most elegant leg
glances by resorting to playing the ball off the front foot first, and then titling the face of the bat.
Once the front foot factor is well and truly secured, pulling off the cover drive becomes a formality. However, what matters most is the amount of footwork that is needed to ensure that a perfectly silken cover drive can be pulled off. Tendulkar’s shot through
the covers, is marked by a massive front foot deployment in the line of the ball, which follows immaculate hand eye coordination, sending the ball rocketing to the boundary. To truly master that stroke, one needs to be an alacritous student, who yearns to
emulate the great master.
For the rest of the shots that this great right-handed batsman plays, extensive hand-eye coordination and wrist work has been the key. Some outrageous shots have been milked off Tendulkar’s bat, but there is no denying the fact that the basics of batting
with class remain the same. Tendulkar is thus, the complete package that youngsters should try and unravel to the very core.
Disclaimer: Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely of the author and do not represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy
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