The cover-drive and it's complexities

#2 Silently makes the batsmen commit to the front-foot

Bouncers are a medium for the bowlers to keep batsmen on their toes

A batsman who is good with his cover-drive almost involuntarily moves forward. A habit is inculcated which could come back to haunt them in time.

There are times when batsmen pre-meditate and stride their foot forward even before the ball gets delivered and is mostly for playing the ball through the extra-cover region. The cover drive is good enough to make the batsman come forward.

Bowlers, through technology and video replays, can easily make their way into the batsman’s mind. Bowlers with express pace can catch the batsman napping by bowling a bouncer. It’s quite evident that a batsman, committed to the front foot, will get ruffled by chin music.

It’s a reminder to the batsmen that they can’t take the bowlers for a walk. When the ball is outside the off-stump, there is a tendency to open the face and play the ball through the covers. Again it shows how the cover drive may be a roadblock to building an innings.