I just sussed the batting out after getting frustrated with ridiculous edges. Then something someone said made it click... Basically, some advice given is terrible(!)
For example;
Yellow = Front foot,
Green = Front foot,
Red = Back foot.
People camp on the front foot because it's easier and you don't have to switch so often. So how was I getting out? Front foot, cover drives on green balls.
So anyway, after a bit of frustration, I started paying attention to the bowling pitch maps and yeah it was kind of obvious in the end, I'm only ashamed at how long it took me to realise it.
So here's the rectified advice:
Yellow = Front foot 90% of the time, you can back foot shot it over to third man, the AI likes that shot, I don't as I find it gamey.
Red = Back foot usually.
Green = 50% back foot, 50% front foot.
Green includes balls "short of a length", which should usually be played on the back foot *and* balls full that you want to hit on the front foot, *and* balls that are good length that can be hit with either type of shot, but usually is safer to play with one or the other.
So those green balls I was edging to slips or the keeper? Were actually short of a length balls that I was hitting on the front foot = higher risk of edge. Once I switched to the back foot, I was hitting them with impunity. Hilariously, I got away with a back foot cover drive on a full ball (edged and dropped) but once I started realising that green isn't an automatic front foot shot, the amount of edges from my play dried up.
I worked out the length of the ball via the front-foot block, as we all know, usually a front foot defensive block will have the batsman moving forward with the bat relatively towards the ground. Anything short of a length (green) would be defended at hip to chest height, as if it should be played off the back foot. Once you figure out when a ball is short of a length (green) or actually full (green) or good length (green) then selecting the correct foot = simpler and makes things a lot easier to score from.
Now I bat with three shots at the 'ready'.
For Pace bowlers (even the Medium bowlers), I stand in a neutral position (because switching from front to back can easily misclick as a 'leave) and pick my shot based on the length and direction;
Wide Off, Red = Cut, bye bye, four runs.
Wide Off, Green = Leave, cover/cut on the front or back foot if the bowler is medium pacer as I have time to judge where the ball will bounce, if it's fast bowling it isn't worth "chasing" like Adam Lyth!
Wide Off, Yellow = Ain't touching that sir...
Off Stump, Red = Cut, bye bye, four runs. (You can pull anything off-stump and short/short of a length like Ricky Ponting did and it's very effective.)
Off Stump, Green/Yellow = Block.
Middle Stump, Red = Pull/Hook/Leave it.
Middle stump, Green/Yellow = Block, unless supremely confident enough to get it past the bowler, usually on the on-side, I block if the bowler is good at getting the ball to seam offside as that's just asking for an edge.
Leg Stump, Red = Hook/Pull, bye bye, four/six runs (always ensure there's not a square fielder on the boundary as this shot can be hit anywhere on leg side depending on timing.)
Leg Stump, Green = Leg Glance, *usually* on the front foot, sometimes I go with the back foot.
Leg Stump, Yellow = Leg Glance / Block - I find timing the leg stump yorker quite difficult, an area to improve I guess.
For spinners: I'm more camped on the front foot;
Wide Off = Cut, *back foot* - I noticed the front foot has the ball connect slightly top-side of the bat, not what you want when the keeper is close.
Off Stump = Cover drive/Block
Middle = Block
Leg = Leg glance
Wide Leg = Sweep.
So, for those who are struggling try that perhaps? Of course, none of that applies at the higher levels without the batting aids I guess, but then this isn't for the pros!
