To Finish or Not to Finish? A Crucial Lesson in Batting Intelligence - Raj Chaudhuri
- Feb 17
- 3 min read
One of the most common questions young batsmen ask me is:
“Should I always finish my shots?”
It’s a simple question - but the answer separates disciplined batsmen from reckless ones.
Let’s make this very clear: You do NOT need to finish every drive.
In fact, finishing at the wrong time is one of the biggest technical and game-awareness mistakes I see in young cricketers.
The Problem with Over-Finishing
Modern cricket, highlight reels, and social media have convinced young players that every drive must look beautiful - big extension, full flourish, high finish.
But cricket is not about looking good. It’s about managing risk.
When the ball is on the line of the stumps - straight or slightly angled in - trying to play a big, exaggerated full-finish drive actually increases your chances of getting out.
Why?
Because at some point in that big flourish, you must break your wrists.The moment you break your wrists early:
The bat face starts to close
The ball that was heading toward middle or off stump now has a greater chance of coming back in
You bring bowled and LBW into play
That’s unnecessary risk.
What You Should Do Instead
When the ball is on the stumps, you don’t need drama.
You need:
Hands going straight through the line
A controlled bat path
A stable face of the bat
Balance over the ball
No exaggerated finish. No “slogger-style” follow-through.
Just solid cricket.
If you watch the best players in the world carefully, they rarely over-finish straight balls at 80-85 mph. They stay compact. They stay controlled. They stay in the game.
When Should You Finish?
Now here’s the important part - finishing isn’t wrong. It’s just situational.
You can fully finish your shot when:
1. The Ball Is Outside Off Stump
If the ball is wide enough where you can safely free your bottom hand, then yes — you can extend and complete the shot.
The risk to your stumps is reduced.
2. You’re Advancing to a Spinner
If you’re running down the wicket to hit a spinner over the top, that’s a committed attacking option. In that case, a full finish makes sense.
You’ve chosen the risk consciously.
What Makes No Sense
What makes absolutely no sense is trying to:
Finish hard against 80–85 mph seam bowling
Play exaggerated drives on straight balls
Swing through the line like baseball
That’s not smart cricket.
If you want to play “baseball cricket,” that’s your choice - but if you want to build a proper batting game that lasts, you must understand context.
This Is About Batting IQ
Batting is not just technique. It’s decision-making.
Every ball presents a question:
What is the line?
What is the length?
What is the field?
What is the match situation?
Finishing or not finishing is not about style it’s about reading the situation.
Young players often focus only on mechanics. But high-level batsmen think in probabilities.
When the odds are against you, reduce risk. When the odds are in your favour, capitalise.
Coaching at First Class Cricket Academy (FCCA)
At FCCA, Raj Chaudhuri works closely with players in every session, focusing on building strong technical foundations that translate into match performance.
UK-based cricket coaching for juniors & adults:
If you’re serious about improving your batting technique, we’d love to help.
Final Thought
If the ball is on the stumps, keep your hands through the ball. Stay compact. Stay balanced.
Finish when it’s safe. Control when it’s not.
That awareness - more than any fancy flourish - is what builds long innings.
And that’s the difference between playing cricket…
…and playing properly.
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