Back-foot defence Dehradun Cricket Academy https://dehraduncricketacademy.com/learn/back-foot-defence/ Back-foot defence deals with a shorter delivery that does not offer a safe scoring opportunity. Create room to meet its bounce while staying balanced and watching the ball closely. Recognise the bounce Read length early enough to choose a back-foot response. The same pitch location can produce different bounce on different surfaces, so include the ball’s actual height in your decision. Move without falling away Observe whether your movement gives the bat space while keeping your head steady. Falling away from the line can make a defensive response less controlled. Meet the ball at its height Follow the ball onto the bat and watch the finish. Ask your coach to check the bat face and whether your hands are following the bounce rather than pushing blindly at it. Your partner mixes a fuller feed with a shorter one. Record which movement you chose before recording the quality of contact. This separates reading the delivery from executing the stroke and shows whether the problem begins before the bat reaches the ball. Name / date ________________________________________________ Was moving back appropriate for this bounce? ________________________________________________ Did my head stay steady through contact? ________________________________________________ Could I leave this delivery instead of playing it? ________________________________________________ What did I try and what happened? ________________________________________________ Coach’s feedback and next step ________________________________________________ Video credit: Rajasthan Royals Academy UK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yz62-edxnGE