Justin Langer Explains Why India Produces Better Batters – And Why Raj Chaudhuri Says We've Been Saying This for Years
- Aug 2
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 3
Cricket fans often ask the same question: Why does India keep producing world-class batters while countries like England and Australia struggle to produce the same depth of talent?
Former Australia head coach Justin Langer believes the answer isn't simply India's huge population or the IPL.
Instead, he says it comes down to how players are coached from a young age.
Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast, Langer shared a fascinating insight into the differences between the Indian coaching system and those in Australia and England. His observations should make every young cricketer, parent and coach stop and think.
India Doesn't Just Produce Talent – It Develops It
When discussing India's extraordinary production line of batters, Langer wasn't talking about natural ability.
He was talking about technical coaching.
He described watching young Indian players and being amazed by how technically advanced they already are before reaching professional cricket.
As Langer explained:
"I see the batting technique of Indian batters is elite and they still talk about it."
That single sentence explains a huge part of India's success.
While many coaching systems have moved towards allowing players to simply "express themselves", India still places enormous value on building strong batting fundamentals first.
The Mumbai Coaching Culture
Langer described what you can see almost every morning at Mumbai's famous Oval Maidan.
Hundreds of young cricketers line up in coaching sessions.
Every repetition focuses on the basics:
Correct foot movement
Head over the ball
Balanced body position
High hands
Repeating the same movement hundreds of times
As he described:
"There will be hundreds of kids lined up... the foot will be placed next to the ball, the head position will be over that front knee... and they'll just hit balls like that. Technique. Technique."
It isn't glamorous.
It isn't viral.
But it works.
Those thousands of quality repetitions create batting movements that eventually become automatic under pressure.
Confidence Comes From Technique
One of Langer's biggest concerns is what he sees happening in England and Australia.
Too often players hear phrases such as:
"Back yourself."
"Just play."
"Trust your instincts."
While confidence is important, Langer believes those messages are incomplete.
He argues:
"You can only back yourself if you've got a foundation of a technique behind you."
That's a hugely important lesson.
Confidence doesn't replace technique.
Confidence is built because good technique gives players solutions when bowlers ask difficult questions.
When the pressure rises, players don't rely on hope.
They rely on habits.
Why England and Australia Are Falling Behind
Langer believes many modern coaching environments have become reluctant to coach batting technique directly.
He even says words such as "technique" and "discipline" almost seem unfashionable.
Instead, coaches often encourage freedom without first ensuring players possess the technical foundation to support it.
The result?
Players may dominate junior cricket or T20 matches but struggle when:
The ball moves.
Bowlers hit consistent areas.
Wicketkeepers stand up to the stumps.
Test cricket exposes technical weaknesses.
Langer believes that's one reason why batting averages have fallen and why good length bowling has become so effective.
Technique Creates Freedom
One of the biggest myths in modern cricket coaching is that technique limits creativity.
Langer believes the opposite.
Good technique actually allows players to play with greater freedom.
If your balance is good...
If your footwork is efficient...
If your head stays still...
You can attack with confidence because your body is already in the right position.
As he explained throughout the discussion, players who move well are far better equipped to adapt to every format, whether it's Test cricket, One Day Internationals or T20.
The Real Job of a Coach
Perhaps Langer's strongest message wasn't about India at all.
It was about coaching.
He said:
"The real coach makes a difference to the player. Improves the player."
That means more than organising enjoyable sessions.
A coach should leave every player technically, mentally and tactically better than they arrived.
Sometimes that means giving uncomfortable feedback.
Sometimes it means changing a player's technique.
Sometimes improvement gets worse before it gets better.
But genuine coaching is about long-term player development, not short-term comfort.
Why This Matters for Young Cricketers
Young players often want the latest batting drills, power-hitting exercises or social media tips.
Those things all have their place.
But none of them replace the fundamentals.
India's success suggests that great players are still built on the same foundations that have existed for generations:
Balance
Footwork
Head position
Timing
Repetition
Quality coaching
Technology has changed.
Equipment has changed.
Formats have changed.
But batting fundamentals remain remarkably consistent.
What This Means at First Class Cricket Academy
Justin Langer's observations struck a chord with us at First Class Cricket Academy (FCCA) because they reinforce principles we've been teaching for years.
Reflecting on Langer's comments, FCCA Head Coach Raj Chaudhuri said:
"Former England captains and an ex-Australian opener and head coach are saying exactly the same things we've been banging on about for years! No wonder the majority of players today can hit the ball, but can't truly bat. Unfortunately, batting is not equal to just hitting."
That statement perfectly captures one of the biggest challenges in modern junior cricket.
T20 cricket has created a generation of players who are encouraged to hit boundaries from an early age. While aggressive cricket certainly has its place, it should never come at the expense of developing sound batting fundamentals.
At FCCA, we believe players must first learn how to build an innings, solve problems at the crease and move efficiently before they can consistently dominate bowlers.
Our coaching philosophy focuses on creating "unconscious competence" - where correct movement patterns and technical habits become automatic under pressure. This allows players to adapt across every format, from junior cricket to county pathway cricket and beyond.
The fundamentals remain the same:
Build a strong technical base.
Develop efficient footwork.
Learn to make good decisions.
Master the basics before expanding your shot selection.
Earn the right to attack.
When technique becomes instinctive, confidence follows naturally.
As Justin Langer explained, players can only truly "back themselves" once they have a reliable technical foundation.
That philosophy has guided some of the world's best players—and it continues to guide every coaching session at FCCA.
Continue Your Batting Development
Explore more coaching insights and technical guidance from First Class Cricket Academy:
How to Dominate Bowlers in Cricket: The Real Method: Learn why dominating a bowler is about controlling length, making good decisions and applying pressure through correct technique—not simply trying to hit every ball.
Power Hitting in Cricket: Why Technique Comes Before Strength: Raj Chaudhuri explains why young players must build strong batting fundamentals before focusing on hitting sixes and generating power.
The Perfect Cricket Bat Grip: The Butcher and Painter Analogy: Discover how the top and bottom hands perform different roles and why the correct grip is essential for controlled stroke play.
Bottom Hand Grip in Cricket: The Small Detail That Changes Everything: Understand how an incorrect bottom-hand position can close the bat face, affect balance and limit a player’s consistency.
Why a Strong Base Is the Secret to Powerful Back Foot Shots: Learn how balance, weight position and a stable base can improve timing and power when playing off the back foot.
The Art of Scoring Runs Begins with Your Setup: Raj explains why a batter’s starting position influences movement, balance, decision-making and the ability to score consistently.
Think You’re Balanced? Try This Simple Cricket Batting Test: Use this simple coaching test to assess whether you remain balanced when playing front-foot shots.
Train with First Class Cricket Academy
FCCA offers specialist cricket coaching for juniors and adults across Sussex, Surrey and Kent.
At FCCA, players are taught to develop strong technical foundations, better decision-making and the ability to perform confidently under match pressure.
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