Is the hook shot dying?

[OverratedSanity]

You don't see it being played that often in tests now do you? Is it because of the top edges from the better bats carrying easier to long/fine leg instead of falling safely into the gaps?

 

[NZTailender]

In the future, they realised hook shots were killing the game of cricket, so they sent a Terminator back to wipe it out before it started dominating the play book.

 

[zorax]

You don't see it being played that often in tests now do you? Is it because of the top edges from the better bats carrying easier to long/fine leg instead of falling safely into the gaps?

Pitches with pace and bounce that allow the ball to carry at that height without sitting up to be smashed aren't that common anymore. Now daywhen the ball gets that high it seems to only be on surfaces where the bounce is uneven, and batsman don't play cross batted strokes as much on an uneven pitch. The 'true' pitches tend to be slower and lower.

Also lots of people pulling on the front foot too, as opposted to rocking back and hooking it

Plus intense cricket schedules; fast bowlers not really willing to bend their back and bang it in for a whole innings. Batsmen just need to weather a breif short-ball storm before good length/full pitched bowling resumes.

These would be my guesses

 

[Daemon]

Clearly Ishant Sharma has made people think that there's just no point

 

[indiaholic]

Think a lot of batsmen get their bats higher while in stance. It allows them to bring the bat down on the ball. Looks more like an overhand than a hook in boxing.

 

[zorax]

I like how it's all Indians talking about the Hook shot

Inb4 Burgey/Furball comment on how the ball doesn't bounce above knee height in India so what do we know about playing hooks

 

[TheJediBrah]

I don't think it's being played any less at all tbh

There might be less genuinely quick short bowling, and not as many bouncers as there used to be

 

[vcs]

Like the cover drive, it is a "make a statement" type shot that carries too much risk for too little reward.

 

[Shri]

You don't see it being played that often in tests now do you? Is it because of the top edges from the better bats carrying easier to long/fine leg instead of falling safely into the gaps?

Look at your avatar ffs.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Woah...Ishant was the terminator NZT was talking about?

 

[Daemon]

Like the cover drive, it is a "make a statement" type shot that carries too much risk for too little reward.

Haha what? Maybe against a swinging ball but cover drives are many players bread and butter.

 

[vcs]

I meant mainly in swinging conditions.

 

[Burgey]

I like how it's all Indians talking about the Hook shot

Inb4 Burgey/Furball comment on how the ball doesn't bounce above knee height in India so what do we know about playing hooks

Thank you for saving me the effort of having to type that. Much obliged. But you left out the other important point of the ball not bouncing because the bowlers are all vegetarians.

 

[Jono]

 

[Burgey]

Exactly. Since Siddle started eating bananas exclusively, his pace has dropped and he averages 125kph.

 

[Furball]

Haha what? Maybe against a swinging ball but cover drives are many players bread and butter.

They're also the most over-rated shot in cricket.

 

[Daemon]

They're also the most over-rated shot in cricket.

In terms of what? Aesthetics? Effectiveness?

 

[Furball]

In terms of what? Aesthetics? Effectiveness?

Aesthetics.

 

[Daemon]

Aesthetics.

To each their own. I find it very sexy and get moist when players (especially those who don't move their feet) lace one through the covers.

 

[Shri]

Square drive > Cover drive. Especially ones that are slapped with disdain after getting down on the front foot.