How were amateurs and professionals different from each other in batting styles?

[Kirkut]

Did the amateurs emphasize more on defense and well timed cricket shots? And the professionals on shots like hook/pull and slogs?

 

[fredfertang]

Did the amateurs emphasize more on defense and well timed cricket shots? And the professionals on shots like hook/pull and slogs?

No, if anything it was the other way round - amateurs like Ranji, Duleep, Spooner and Fry were flair players of their time whereas the likes of Hayward, Shrewsbury and Abel were the pros who were only interested in making runs

 

[Kirkut]

No, if anything it was the other way round - amateurs like Ranji, Duleep, Spooner and Fry were flair players of their time whereas the likes of Hayward, Shrewsbury and Abel were the pros who were only interested in making runs

Interesting. I read somewhere that the amateurs were more into off side stroke play and the professionals more into legside shots, basically elegant off side cricket shots were associated with amateurs and 'workmanlike' legside shots were played mostly by pros.

But your point makes more sense since amateurs were well off and played the game for fun probably not worrying about technique, whereas pros needed the money from the game.

 

[fredfertang]

Interesting. I read somewhere that the amateurs were more into off side stroke play and the professionals more into legside shots, basically elegant off side cricket shots were associated with amateurs and 'workmanlike' legside shots were played mostly by pros.

But your point makes more sense since amateurs were well off and played the game for fun probably not worrying about technique, whereas pros needed the money from the game.

There was a time when hitting the ball to leg was, whilst within the rules, considered to be 'bad form' - I think it was the Graces who put a stop to that and started hitting the ball around the wicket

 

[andmark]

There was a time when hitting the ball to leg was, whilst within the rules, considered to be 'bad form' - I think it was the Graces who put a stop to that and started hitting the ball around the wicket

Yeah, I've heard that WG was a leg side hitter before it was cool and I guess it's possible his brothers who grew up with him would've learned the same methods. Am I right in thinking the reasoning behind it being considered "bad form" was because no one expected it?

 

[Kirkut]

If Steve Smith was playing in the 1950s, I'm guessing he would be a quintessential pro. He pays no attention to batting aesthetics, but gets the job done always whether playing a rearguard innings or run a ball century, plus a very strong leg side batsman.

 

[the big bambino]

There have many gentlemen batsmen who were considered elegant and with a proper technique. I think WG was an amateur and he is the man who laid the foundation for batting and bowling techniques.

 

[fredfertang]

Yeah, I've heard that WG was a leg side hitter before it was cool and I guess it's possible his brothers who grew up with him would've learned the same methods. Am I right in thinking the reasoning behind it being considered "bad form" was because no one expected it?

I think it was big brother EM who started playing the pull first - I don't think there was any particular reason beyond when the game started the wickets were so poor and the batsman had so little protection that you were putting yourself in danger if you shaped to play on the leg side so batsman tended not to do it

 

[Burgey]

A big difference was that in ypical English style, amateaurs were carried out to bat by professionals in sedan chairs

 

[Arachnodouche]

If Steve Smith was playing in the 1950s, I'm guessing he would be a quintessential pro. He pays no attention to batting aesthetics, but gets the job done always whether playing a rearguard innings or run a ball century, plus a very strong leg side batsman.

Nobody likes to bat ugly if they can help it. I used to fancy myself flicking to leg like a Mark Waugh-Azhar hybrid until a frontal video clipped my fanciful wings.