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Fast bowlers use the short ball as a legitimate weapon to unsettle any batsman. It is a fair and reasonable tactic that has stood the test of time.On that terrible day at the SCG in November 2014, Phillip Hughes appeared to misjudge the pace of the ball and looked to be through his hook shot before he was struck in the neck, clear of the protective face of the helmet.It was a shocking, freak accident and, especially for Phils family and friends, so terrible in its finality.In the wake of the Hughes tragedy there has been a disturbing number of quality batsmen being struck on the helmet. The hit list is not dominated by mid- to lower-order batsmen. In recent times players of the calibre of Steven Smith, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke, Chris Rogers and Virat Kohli have copped heavy blows to the helmet.When looking at footage of the incidents, you see all too clearly that all of the players who were hit were not watching the ball and they were struck on the side of the helmet.Just a couple of weeks after Hughes tragic death, Australia played India at the Adelaide Oval. The ground was packed but the silence was deafening the instant Kohli was hit on the helmet from the first ball he faced from Mitchell Johnson.Kohli, one of the best and most exciting batsmen in the world, was not watching the ball.If some of the worlds best batsmen are taking their eye off the ball, whats happening to batting technique among the young, emerging cricketers?All parents want their children to be safe, but just sticking a helmet on them is not the only solution here. Youngsters need to learn to watch the ball like a hawk and to play short-pitched bowling.Junior coaches everywhere must look at what they are doing. Proper technique against short-pitched bowling starts the day the youngster picks up a cricket bat, eager to learn the game. The Chappells were five years old when they did.Former Test opening batsman Ashley Woodcock coaches juniors and seniors at University Cricket Club in Adelaide. He learnt the rudiments of batting from his older brother Steve.Two basic shots are the backward defence and the forward defence, Woodcock said. With the modern-day forward press, it makes life difficult to get back and across to a short-pitched delivery. In the days before helmets a batsman had no choice. He had to watch the ball.Long-time South Australian captain Les Favell used to invite a current State player to accompany him on coaching trips to the country areas. He stressed to the youngsters that all the attacking shots are linked to two basic shots: the forward and back defence.When a batsman plays back, the movement is back and across. From that position he can cut, pull or hook. Shots developed from the forward defence are the off and the cover drives and shots off the pads.Among the list of players who accompanied Favell on those trips were Garry Sobers and Barry Richards. Both men had a back-and-across first movement. Those basic movements are important, all done while never taking your eye off the ball.Against fast bowling a back-and-across first movement allows the batsman to get in behind the line of flight. If the ball is wide he can allow it to pass, but he can hook a short ball that is passing over leg stump if he is back and across his stumps, with his head inside the line of flight. This technique is terrific because even if he makes a mistake and misses the ball, his head is inside the line and out of harms way.Englands Colin Cowdrey scored centuries against West Indian speedsters Wes Hall and Charlie Griffith in the early 1960s. He likened the challenge of facing a fast bowler to be akin to a boxer moving his feet swiftly, never taking his eyes off his opponent, easily swaying away from danger.Ian Redpath, a former Australian Test opener, rarely hooked the ball, yet he scored three centuries in 1975-76 against West Indies, whose attack included Andy Roberts and Michael Holding. Redpaths method was make the West Indies bowlers bowl to him. Anything short, shoulder to head high, he swayed out of the way, waiting for a ball of full length to drive for four.It is folly to think the helmet, however innovative and strong, can fully protect batsmen.Last Friday, during the elimination final of the Matador Cup at Drummoyne Oval, New South Wales opening batsman Daniel Hughes was struck on the side of his helmet as he attempted to hook a short ball from Victorias Peter Siddle. Hughes fell to his knees as concerned fieldsmen rushed to his side. The medical officer at the ground, Dr John Orchard, immediately ordered Hughes to take a concussion test. After undergoing the test, Hughes (retired hurt on 23) was ruled out of taking further part in the match. A concussion substitute (Nick Larkin) took his place.Fellow NSW batsman Nic Maddinson replaced Hughes in the order. He too was struck a blow on the helmet and was assessed under Cricket Australias new Concussion and Head Trauma Policy by medical staff on the ground and allowed to bat on. He played on and belted a match-winning 86. These incidents further highlight how dangerous the game has become mainly because of poor technique against short-pitched bowling and batsmen taking their eye off the ball.Former Test captain Ian Chappell was a good hooker and I cant remember him being hit in the head at any stage of his first-class career.When youre quickly on to the front foot its impossible to get inside the line of the delivery to play the shot more safely, he said.I cant believe they [Cricket Australia] held a review of safety and it didnt include the technique of playing the short ball.Bob Simpson, a former Australian Test opener and captain, was adamant that technique against fast bowling generally seemed to be lacking.I think the helmet gives a batsman a false sense of security, he said.Don Bradman reckoned the most important aspect of batting was to watch the ball. Arguably Australias best batsman since Bradman, Greg Chappell, nowadays Cricket Australias talent manager, said the bigger issue is that the helmets are now heavier and cause players to stand more upright to manage that weight.This puts their weight back on their heels more than the players of the past who were more on the balls of their feet, Greg said. They find it harder to change position quickly so they are more prone to get hit than a nimble-footed player.The fact that they know that they are less likely to get badly hurt, there is not the same incentive to develop a good method to deal with short balls. We didnt have that luxury so we had to get into a better position.The two keys to not getting hit are to be on the balls of your feet and to watch the ball.In relation to coaching youngsters in the art of batting, Greg suggested starting with a soft ball. Unlike our father [Martin Chappell], I wouldnt recommend using a hard ball from the start.Use a soft ball and include short balls early by getting a youngster to hit to areas. What I mean by hitting to areas is to set the session up anywhere but a net. A tennis court is ideal so the kid has a feeling of space around them, but the ball cant go too far. Apart from ensuring that the grip and stance are comfortable, relaxed and efficient, I wouldnt teach the kid anything else.Greg advocated setting three scoring zones - square of the wicket on the off-side, square of the wicket on the leg side and straight back past the bowler.If one can cut, pull and drive, one can be a great player. Think Graeme Pollock - those three shots were all he needed. Every other shot is a derivative of those three anyway.Greg sets up a coaching session by bowling from the net of a tennis court to the youngster batting on the base line. Scoring zones are from the back corner of the net to mid-pitch both sides. He lobs the ball to the batsman and direct them to a target. For example, if the ball is lobbed full and straight, Greg will say, Okay son, I want you to hit it to the net straight past me.If a cut shot to the point boundary is required, the ball is lobbed short and wide of the off stump.I include balls bouncing up to chest and head height very early so it becomes part of the whole rather than a separate part of the learning, Greg said.Most kids quickly work out that if they shift their body to the off side of the short ball they can hit it hard through the leg-side target area. As they get more proficient, I cramp them for room with more speed to see how they cope. If they have a problem, I ask them what they think the solution is rather than telling them what to do. It generally works extremely well and the kids progress quickly.Martin Chappell gave his three boys this advice: You have a bat in your hand for one reason and one reason only and that is to score runs. Learn to use the bat properly and you will never get hit.Greg believes good footwork is nothing more than developing the ability to shift ones body from one position to another to free ones arms to hit the ball to the intended target area.This is what Bradman did better than the rest of us, he said.For the sake of the health of our international and emerging batsmen, lets hope the administrators take heed of the sound advice from three of Australias batting legends.By all means, lets have lighter, stronger batting helmets, but the very first step in safety for batsmen against any bowler is to watch the ball.The ICC cant afford to take its eye off the ball over this safety issue. Safety for batsmen is a global priority. Batsman getting hit on the head - whether while wearing a helmet or not - are vulnerable to serious injury.Proper technique when playing the short stuff is paramount and every batting coach from the grassroots to the Test arena needs to take heed. Thomas Muller Jersey . 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