Quote:
Originally Posted by cricket_king
Amazingly complicated explanation there. Anyhow, in my opinion, being tall is an advantage in any sport. In cricket, the sheer height of tall batsman allow them to play back-foot shots, particularly the hook and the pull, better than any other batsman. No "center of gravity" or anything like that has anything to do with it.
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Being tall is an advantage in sport - granted, but I don't think it results in being a better hooker as a batsman. This is because the "hook" ( as opposed to the "pull" )shot is usually played when the delivery is something like a bouncer - aimed at batsmen's chest or higher - and bowlers do adjust their length according to the batmen so a good batsman wouln't have trouble gettingon tpp of the ball. Like any other shots, the proper execution of the hook or pull depends on reflex, timing and balance.
And I do think shorter batmen can play the drive better - Hayden is definitely an exception coz he is just amazing in the V. I think typically taller batsmen do struggle somewhat with the drive like Stephen Fleming and Wasim Jaffar, as with their longer reach they can at times be caught in half-cock ( neither front nor back foot ) positions.