I've always liked watching good hookers in action, but personally, i prefer a nice pull

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The thought police are everywhere..............

Now that's a very sound case. Just one quibble: I'd suggest that the shot is considerably more impressive off quality swing bowling on a seaming pitch than off stuff that's merely fast - anyone can play a predicatable line... but only the very best can make the late adjustments to balls moving in the air and off the pitch.You could probably find recent examples from footage of Martyn, Thorpe, Jayawardene and Lara... but it seems to me that few modern sweepers back themselves to consistently dab the ball into a gap - most appear to gamble on throwing the bat and seemingly just hope they force a change in the field before their luck runs out.

No IMO when Vaughan was at his peak in 2003 - his cover drive when times to perfection was the shot that said Vaughan.

As for the short wide ball just waiting for the batsmen to have a slog at - those who scoff at the square cut, never watched Allan Lamb or Robin Smith at their best, the square cut to them was an artform - timing plus a good eye plus power.

A player Rachael kinda likes Mike Brealey was a player who liked to cut, the difference was with Brearley - his timing was lacking at times - and he holed out at gully more that he should have done.

As for the sweep - it's a real hit and miss afain IMO - if the bowler bowls staight, then it's a case of if you miss - I hit, and the reverse sweep is even worse to watch - sooner rather than later a player useing that stroke with be out.

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Ern

Gower's square cut was a thing to behold... as was Mark Waugh's... and even Thorpe's... but Smith invariably tried too hard: where Gower eased the ball out between the fielders... Smith went at the ball as if venting pent up frustration or anger - more mad axe-man than the rather more sublime VVS Laxman.

That said... Gower's late cut was considerably more exquisite than his square cut...

Thorpe was an excellent cutter and he used to concentrate on the ball while executing the stroke. Justin Langer was very similar. India's Gautam Gambhir has a good cut and can develop into a significant international batsman provided he keeps his head screwed on his shoulders.

Gower was a superb timer of the ball especially through the off side, but more often than not he was his own worst enemy. While seemingly well settled into an innings and seeing the ball well, he tended to get too languid and play a careless stroke to lose his wicket.

In terms of elegance nothing can beat a full cover drive.

In terms of difficulty, a perfectly executed on drive is always worthy of admiration.

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Mark.

Agreed. Getting the lead leg out of the way without appearing to lose balance or timing is the key to a good on drive. But getting the leg too far out would send the ball squarer than intended, making it look more like a 'reversed' pull with the weight shifted forwards than a true on drive. Greg Chappell was the best on-driver among the great cricketers that I have actually seen in action; Viv Richards also on drove well, but he did not play that shot as often or as effectively as Chappell did.

My favourite shot without doubt is the cover drive.


When played well can bring runs and also looks good when other players play the shot.



Also like the pull shot.

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Come on Aussies.

Another big cricket season in 2007/2008.

The most majestic stroke in the game,The cover drive,....a la LEN HUTTON. no one could equal Len's cover drive.

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I'm not young enough to know everything.

The hook shot by far. Nothing beats a good hook shot for 6.

Love the hook shot more, more and more times i see it played.

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