If you are a devoted cricket fan and a keen observer, you have likely observed cricketers tapping their bats on the field between deliveries. One often-asked question is why they tap their bats and what the purpose is.
The mystery behind it is about to be revealed. We have compiled several explanations for why cricket players behave in this manner on the field, as well as their benefits.
The mentioned causes can typically explain why a batter taps their bats on the pitch. However, there are numerous other reasons why a batsman might behave in this manner during a game.
Let’s examine seven of the most prevalent causes:
Why do Cricketers Tap Their Bats on the Pitch?
1. Identify and Fill Cracks to Prevent an Uneven Bounce
The behaviour of a cricket pitch is frequently unpredictable. Cracks in the field, however, cause the ball to deviate from its intended trajectory. It can even astonish the batter with an unexpectedly high or low bounce. More often than not, this irregular bounce causes a batsman to lose concentration, or worse, his wicket.
Thus, when a new batsman comes to the crease, one of the first things he does is tap the pitch where the ball had an uneven bounce or where he sees a crack, with the aim of levelling it out. This can assist in reestablishing a normal bounce.
This may be more prevalent among new batsmen, who are frequently oblivious to the precise locations of the cracks. However, even a well-settled batsman can be observed performing this action when the ball bounces unexpectedly on the pitch.
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2. To Make Bowlers Wait
Cricket is a mental as well as a physical sport. A batter may experience pressure from time to time. This could be a result of the opposition’s aggressive bowling or the pressure caused by other methods, such as sledging.
In such instances, the best course of action is to slow things down. Allow the other team to wait a little longer, and use that time to examine the situation.
The bowler cannot bowl the ball as long as the batsman does not take guard. This provides an opportunity to disrupt the bowler’s and the bowling team’s rhythm.
Many players adopt various techniques to lengthen the wait time. MS Dhoni, for example, may open the left glove and replace it, then do the same with the right glove.
Some players prefer to look around the field to check the field location, but they also use this time to interrupt the bowling team’s rhythm. Others will just stroll down the pitch and tap on it. which serves the twin aim of flattening the cracks and, more significantly, making the bowlers wait.
3. Reduce the Impact of the Bowlers’ Footprints
During a cricket game, the pitch condition often changes as the game goes on. The footmarks left by the players of the other team are one of the many things that cause the pitch to get worse. Because of inertia, the bowler ends up moving on the pitch after he or she has thrown the ball.
This causes the field to wear down, which makes the ball spin or even bounce in strange ways. In fact, this is one of the main things that many captains think about when picking bowlers for their team.
So, you might see batters walk up to certain parts of the pitch and tap them to reset the top layers of the pitch in places where the bowlers’ run-ups have changed them. This is more likely to happen in a Test match than in a T20 game, which tends to be shorter because there is less wear and tear.
Also Read | 6 Reasons Why Test Cricket is So Hard
4. Reducing Nervousness
There are multiple reasons for a batter’s anxiety as he approaches the pitch. The batsman’s debut match, the opposition’s aggressive behaviour when he is struck, or the youngster’s sledging can all contribute to his anxiety.
This can be mentally taxing for the batter, who has a great deal depending on his performance. He may also encounter difficulties when confronting a large crowd that is jeering, booing, or cheering him.
Batsmen tap their bats on the ground to soothe themselves. This allows them to relax and concentrate on hitting.
It is merely a method for overcoming their anxiety, particularly during big games. Players such as Virender Sehwag used to whistle or sing a song while batting in order to remain calm and perform freely.
5. Concentration During a Long Inning
As a batsman, a cricket player enjoys long innings that enable him to score a double or even a triple century. Such innings require determination and intense concentration.
Even for a cricketer, a lengthy innings, particularly during a test match, can become monotonous. This can cause the batsman to lose concentration, leading to his eventual dismissal. In order to maintain focus and concentration, batters frequently tap their bats on the pitch.
6. Remove Any Objects from the Pitch
There are situations when a crack in the pitch or a bowler’s footmark is not the source of the problem. While batting, there may be factors on the pitch that can distract or cause problems for the player.
Cricketers frequently notice little stones, tapes, or other such objects that fall onto a cricket pitch. While the origin of such things is unimportant and difficult to determine, it is critical for a batsman to eliminate them from a pitch.
As a result, you may see a batsman approach such alien items on a pitch and either tap their bat on the pitch or bend and pick them up to entirely remove them from the pitch.
7. Interact with the Batting Partner
A batting team, as you may know, has two players bat at the same time to score runs. A strong level of communication is often quite necessary in order to avoid losing a wicket.
Cricketers are frequently observed tapping their bats on the pitch as they walk to the opposite end of the field to speak with their batting partner. This activity is sometimes the product of a batsman’s habit.
At times, the two players pretend to tap on the pitch in order to approach each other and communicate.
