Every match I watch on TV I see the non-striker backing up too far out of their crease before the bowler has delivered the ball… and batters keep doing this despite the recent Mankad incident between England and India’s women’s teams.

Here is a very simple tip I learned in Geoffrey Boycott’s coaching book in 1982. And I’ve added a few of my own small adaptations… and let’s hope the message can get through to the professional cricketers so they can set the example and raise the bar higher when it comes to how to run really well between wickets as well as how to backup properly.

That’s not only gonna make your life easier as a batter, it’s also gonna remove Mankad from the world of cricket. And it might just help your team win the World Cup.

The problem with backing up comes when the non-striker walks in with the bowler and slides their bat along the turf.

The best way to prevent Mankad dismissals is to backup in a way that you’re ready to race through for the run as soon as you see that it’s on. Start by positioning your bat behind the crease so that you can’t be Mankaded… and then you can safely stand outside of your crease – and that is legal and it is also fair.

Don’t move your bat at all. Keep your bat behind the crease in one spot and then watch the ball leave the bowler’s hand.

The moment the ball leaves his or her hand, then it’s safe and fair to lift your bat and to take two or three quick steps down the pitch ready to race through for a single, or more. That’s the best way to back-up as the non-striker.

It’s fair, and it’s also better than how 99% of professional cricketers are backing up in the year 2022.

Shot on location at Westerford High School. Special thanks to the Westerford High School 2nd XI coach and opening batters.