5 batsmen with unorthodox technique who have conquered the challenges of Test cricket
Batsmanship in Test cricket requires a high degree of skill, concentration, stamina and hunger for runs. Test cricket is referred to by all great players as the ultimate challenge because success in Test cricket requires an exceptionally high level of physical and mental toughness.
A batsman in Test cricket encounters various challenges in different conditions and different match situations and fortitude and resilience are required to convincingly and consistently succeed. The ability to adapt is also essential in combating diverse conditions from the spinning tracks in India to the swinging pitches of England or the pace and bounce in Australia.
Each batsman has a unique batting technique which forms the core of the player's batting persona. However, it is not essential to have a textbook batting technique in order to achieve success in Test cricket. While exceptional Test batsmen like Tendulkar, Ponting, Lara had a sound batting technique which looked very elegant there are some batsmen with unorthodox or unusual batting techniques who have managed to conquer the challenges of Test cricket.
Let's have a look at some of these Test batsmen with unorthodox techniques ranging from an ambitious youngster to a legend of the game.
#5 Peter Handscomb
Peter Handscomb, a 26-year-old Aussie burst into fame with an excellent start to his Test career highlighted by not being dismissed for less than 50 in his first 7 Test innings (the first Test player to achieve this). However, it is his highly unusual batting technique which cricket pundits and experts have scrutinized. Handscomb, though, has stuck with his unconventional batting technique and used it very successfully against both seamers and spinners.
Handscomb's unique batting technique involves high hands, a fan-like bat lift, wide stance that extends deep into the batting crease and wriggling his bat up and down as the bowler releases the ball. He developed this technique in conjunction with the then Victorian head coach Greg Shipperd in 2014. The motif of the batting technique is that it gives Handscomb a fraction more time to deal with the fast pacers. While dealing with spinners though Handscomb believes in reading the ball from the hand (instead of off the pitch), he uses his feet effectively and is regarded as one of the best Aussie batsmen against spin. He also has the sweep shot in his repertoire which he often uses to combat spin.
Handscomb has a superb average of 47.35 over 22 innings with 2 centuries and 4 fifties including outstanding performances in the subcontinent. He looks well poised to have a great Test career ahead. Although his batting technique is unorthodox, Handscomb has achieved success with it because he is comfortable with it.