5 reasons why batsmen play pre-meditated strokes

#3 Medium of infusing impetus to an innings

Reverse sweeps are risky but can be rewarding

When a team strides onto the cricket field in a limited overs match after setting the opposition a target, they either feel assured about the total or there is a sense of disappointment on their faces after achieving a below par score.

It’s the impetus to an innings, which turns out to be instrumental in constructing a competitive score. Pre-meditated strokes, at times, creates the difference between a win and a loss. Batsmen generally play such strokes when the power-plays are on and minimum fielders are outside the 30-yard circle.

The shots, though filled with danger, are somewhat sensible when the chances of getting out are minimum. With a spread-out field, they aren’t high percentage strokes as batsmen can hold out to the fielders patrolling the boundary.

T20 cricket, through partially requires merit, is a game of pre-meditation, especially for batsmen. Scores of 200 requires the mind to be trained that way. One simply can’t afford to drive good-length deliveries on off-stump through the cover region on a regular basis.

One of the prime-examples of pre-mediated strokes come from the likes of A.B de Villiers. He can pull a good-length delivery on middle-stump over mid-wicket and hit the same delivery over the cover region. It requires incredible hand-eye coordination to contrive these shots.