Where are the 'Hookers and Pullers'?

[umarf76]

I dont know if it is the day and age of helmets or what but there are hardly any great hook and pull shot players left. If you look back in the 80s, you had Fredriks, Greenidge, Richards, Richardson, Amarnath etc. all incredible hook shot players. Even Imran was pretty good at that shot. There were also better fast bowlers around then. Those who say the 92/93 WI Pak series in West Indies will remember Richardson just hammering Wasim, Waqar and Ata ur Rehman into the stands with that shot.

Now there is hardly anyone who is a master at that shot. The best at that shot is probably Ponting but even he carries a scar on his face from Harmisson.

Today I saw Kemar Roach pick up 4 of his 6 wickets with bouncers! Ridiculous. Maybe the helmets need to go so that these guys can start hooking again!

[kingusama92]

There isn't anyone who is a fantastic puller of the ball any more. I think Ponting would be up there like you suggested... he usually pulls them off as well, the Harmison one was a rare one that he missed out on.

Most subcontinent players aren't good at the pull shot. Inzi was decent at it and Kamran Akmal loves playing it (doesn't mean he's good at it) but at least they weren't scared of the ball while attempting those shots.

A few of the Saffers play it quite well but no one that I can remember stands out with his pull/hook shot these days.

[umarf76]

Originally Posted by kingusama92 There isn't anyone who is a fantastic puller of the ball any more. I think Ponting would be up there like you suggested... he usually pulls them off as well, the Harmison one was a rare one that he missed out on. Most subcontinent players aren't good at the pull shot. Inzi was decent at it and Kamran Akmal loves playing it (doesn't mean he's good at it) but at least they weren't scared of the ball while attempting those shots. A few of the Saffers play it quite well but no one that I can remember stands out with his pull/hook shot these days.

majid khan and the late wasim raja were both quite good at that shot. Even Mohsin Khan. From India Amarnath was pretty good but you are right that in general subcontinent does not have much especially now. Yasser Hameed maybe the best one! He played a fine pull of Brett Lee once for 6.

[saeed-sohail]

Imran farhat is a good puller/hooker.

[saeed-sohail]

aamir sohail ,hayden were good too.

[AZ]

Ponting is the only clear standout in this generation...Vaughan was also an excellent hooker

[siimo]

I thought Gilchrst was excellent, although he is retired now.

[Viv_rav]

yuvraj is an amazing puller, his hooking is freaking abysmal though. Same with SRT.

[Faisal Akhtar]

Originally Posted by Viv_rav yuvraj is an amazing puller, his hooking is freaking abysmal though. Same with SRT.

Yuvraj has a very poor technique against the short ball. A good fast bowler will have him any day. Its one of the reasons he has a poor test record.

[zulfiqar]

Yeh, I was also going to say about Yuvraj that pulling/hooking has actually at times been his only weakness. He can pull some great sixes off spinners and slower medium pacers but is found lacking against pace. Sometimes he's almost just wanting to pull so badly that he will pull deliveries that are not all that short and end up finding the man in the circle or skying it to the outfielders. He pulls slower bowlers nicely though... some of his sixes while pulling have been huge.

[zulfiqar]

And about SRT, I think in his prime he was indeed a really great player of the pull shot. These days he doesn't attempt it as much though so can't say. Jayasuria anyone?

[crichassan]

are we forgatting imran nazir?

[JeeraBlade]

Where are the 'Hookers and Pullers'?

Same place where thge bouncers have gone.

With the limit of bouncers per over, the better question would have been:
Where are the bouncers?

With the cry babies & incompetent player like these, who could not play bouncers at all, the hook and pulls have become extinct. Read the result of match at the bottom of the score card:

http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64167.html


Plus we don't have the fast bowlers that we had from 1975 through 1985.

[12thMan]

The players are growing up differently now.
Can you imagine players walking down the pitch to fast bowlers? This is what has happened plus some rule changes

[muzher]

Originally Posted by crichassan are we forgatting imran nazir?

If/When he gets going, yes. Nazir is lethal.

[muzher]

Originally Posted by Faisal Akhtar Yuvraj has a very poor technique against the short ball. A good fast bowler will have him any day. Its one of the reasons he has a poor test record.

[Free Hit]

puller= shoaib akhtar in everything conterversies and....

[Archie]

if I have to name one guy who I think can hook real good was. Martin crow.

[Monsee]

Originally Posted by Free Hit puller= shoaib akhtar in everything conterversies and....

But that means he is more of a 'Hooker'...always controversial and cheap

[Viv_rav]

Originally Posted by Monsee But that means he is more of a 'Hooker'...always controversial and cheap

He does have the corresponding STDs to go along with it...

[HuZi]

Ponting,and both Imran's are good at pulling/hooking (Farhat and Nazir)

[spectator]

Thread title suggests that it should be in timepass section but as the discussion is on cricket so i would say imran nazir is best Hooker and puller i have ever seen

[Random Aussie]

Not many of the current Aus batsmen are great at this shot. Only really Ponting now where we used to have Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Gilchrist all not guys you should bowl short to consistently.

[DHONI183]

Sachin Tendulkar is thrilling.
MS Dhoni I tell you is not bad at all. Proteas tested him with short stuff in 2006 series but he responded in a gutsy fashion.

And as I type, Punter pulls an Anderson delivery away!

[Disco_Lemonade]

Originally Posted by JeeraBlade Same place where thge bouncers have gone. With the limit of bouncers per over, the better question would have been: Where are the bouncers? With the cry babies & incompetent player like these, who could not play bouncers at all, the hook and pulls have become extinct. Read the result of match at the bottom of the score card: http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64167.html Plus we don't have the fast bowlers that we had from 1975 through 1985.

Match notes

* Bishen Bedi conceded the match in protest against the short pitched bowling tactics of Pakistan. Sarfraz Nawaz's last 4 deliveries were all out of reach of the batsmen, and not called wide by the umpire.

ROFL! wot a moment that would have been!

[Golden arm]

Generally Pakistanis and Indians are not good pullers or hookers.
Do we need a good height for being an effective puller or hooker?
Punter is I think just 5 feet 7 inches, but he is one of the best puller and hooker in international cricket.

[JeeraBlade]

Originally Posted by DHONI183 Sachin Tendulkar is thrilling.

I agree Sachin is thrilling. I can't think of one single person who was not thrilled to see Sachin play these couple of bouncers. Notice the very first ball, how beautifully he hooked that bouncer.

[spectator]

Originally Posted by Golden arm Generally Pakistanis and Indians are not good pullers or hookers. Do we need a good height for being an effective puller or hooker? Punter is I think just 5 feet 7 inches, but he is one of the best puller and hooker in international cricket.

yes pakistani hookers and pullers need to have

1. good height is ideal but guts are more important.
2. Figure out whome to hook coz not every player can be hooked easily.
3. when hooking do it with confidence.
4. Sometimes be prepared to not hook at all even after decided to hook coz conditions could be bad or dangerous.
5. Hooking and pulling is an art and require constant practice. Even during practice sessions before a match find some time to hook.
6. If some batsman is good at hooking he should teach the tactics to other batsmen. Experience is the key here.

[JeeraBlade]

Originally Posted by Golden arm Generally Pakistanis and Indians are not good pullers or hookers. Do we need a good height for being an effective puller or hooker? Punter is I think just 5 feet 7 inches, but he is one of the best puller and hooker in international cricket.

Alvin Kallicharan was arguably the best hooker/puller of the 70s. He seems to be of a very short @5-6 may be - I don't know. He took on Lillee and Thompson without helmets when those bowlers were at their peak.

[AZ]

Asian players are not that good at the horizontal bat shots primarily because of lack of use of them on the slower, lower Asian pitches...Australian and South African players are much better cutters and hooker/pullers of the ball because of the much better bounce on their wickets...

I think shorter batsmen are better at the hook/pull, as it is easier for them to get under the ball and help it along towards square/fine leg...it would take a helluva of a dlivery to get someone like Gayle or Hayden to play the hook shot

Technique to play the hook is very important, but the main factor IMO is mental courage...it takes guts to take on a 90mph short ball, especially when you know you are gonne be peppered with some more if the bowlers see you going for the hook shot!

[pakistani pride]

Dhoni is a good batsmen but i am sorry Dhoni183 he is not a good hooker or puller od a cricket ball !

Ponting is all class though.

[JeeraBlade]

Originally Posted by pakistani pride Dhoni is a good batsmen but i am sorry Dhoni183 he is not a good hooker or puller of a cricket ball !

MSD not good at something?? Good luck convincing him.

[umarf76]

Originally Posted by JeeraBlade Alvin Kallicharan was arguably the best hooker/puller of the 70s. He seems to be of a very short @5-6 may be - I don't know. He took on Lillee and Thompson without helmets when those bowlers were at their peak.

true

most guys from west indies were good at the pull shot. Fredricks, Greenidge, Richards and Richardson were all great at that shot.

[abc_to_xyz]

Talking about Hook and Pull shots, we do have 2 Mighty timers for this shot:

1. Nasir Jamshed:



2. Imran Nazir, (Full innings filled with Hooks and Pulls):

[JeeraBlade]

^^ Imran, yes. Nasir, we'll have to see.

[DHONI183]

Originally Posted by JeeraBlade I agree Sachin is thrilling. I can't think of one single person who was not thrilled to see Sachin play these couple of bouncers. Notice the very first ball, how beautifully he hooked that bouncer.

Blade, you are a Youtuber of highest rank and you don´t need to justify your rank again and again. Being a good player of a certain shot doesn´t mean you will have to have a hundred percent record to be called good at it. This old rubbish of digging out YouTube videos cannot fool someone like me.

Few suggestions:

Go and search in YouTube his 90+ runs innings again South Africa in Belfast, Ireland, 2007. Apart from that, I can dig out few clips as well but I am sensible enough to know that it won´t make any sense.

Inzamam-ul-Haq was a great player of spin, but those shameless people who disagree to me may post a clip of him falling over the stumps against Monty Panesar. Would I then disagree to myself? - No!

Originally Posted by pakistani pride Dhoni is a good batsmen but i am sorry Dhoni183 he is not a good hooker or puller od a cricket ball !

Is that your first post ever since our debate over MS Dhoni and Kamran Akmal? I thought you had left the place.......

I would suggest you to watch his 148 against Pakistan in Faisalabad, second Test 2006. He showed his pulling and hooking skills there.

Originally Posted by JeeraBlade MSD not good at something?? Good luck convincing him.

Very unfair to someone who is a reality-accepting cricket fan.

[Majid Khan]

Did anyone see today, Mitchell Johnson of all batsmen, played a hook shot ? and what a shot it was too.

I was thinking only the other day, have not seen any batsman play a good hook shot for years..

[JeeraBlade]

Originally Posted by DHONI183 This old rubbish of digging out YouTube videos cannot fool someone like me.

So this youtube clip of Shoaib making the mockery of an Indian batsman (Sachin) is rubbish?

This youtube video clip of Shoaib bringing the batsman and his fans down to Earth is rubbish?

This youtube video clip of Shoaib showing the world that on his days, NOBODY - not even Sachin, can play him is rubbish?


Any other PPer see it that way or Dhoni183 is an exception?

Originally Posted by DHONI183 Go and search in YouTube his 90+ runs innings again South Africa in Belfast, Ireland, 2007. Apart from that, I can dig out few clips as well but I am sensible enough to know that it won´t make any sense.

I was expecting a "true patriotic Indian" to defend an Indian batsman but coming from a "true patriotic Pakistani", I am surprised.

Anybody else surprised?

[Mohsin]

Originally Posted by Majid Khan Did anyone see today, Mitchell Johnson of all batsmen, played a hook shot ? and what a shot it was too. I was thinking only the other day, have not seen any batsman play a good hook shot for years..

That was a GREAT shot! He had his eyes closed but still take nothing away from that shot...so crisply played!

[Majid Khan]

Yeah top shot it was , what impressed me was how good Mitchell Johnson's footwork and technique is , as well as his range of shots .. for someone who's got into the team as a specialist bowler.

Let's be honest, if that was a young Pakistani opening batsman who played the innings he did today, we would be hailing him as the next Saeed Anwar! lol.

[DHONI183]

Originally Posted by JeeraBlade So this youtube clip of Shoaib making the mockery of an Indian batsman (Sachin) is rubbish? This youtube video clip of Shoaib bringing the batsman and his fans down to Earth is rubbish? This youtube video clip of Shoaib showing the world that on his days, NOBODY - not even Sachin, can play him is rubbish? Any other PPer see it that way or Dhoni183 is an exception?

By maintaining what I said earlier, in the context this is sheer rubbish! Of course it was thrilling from Shoaib Akhtar and I thoroughly enjoyed it watching it live. But Blade please learn the fact that arguments can hardly be based upon YouTube video clips. It really looks a little childish of you. I am sure that it doesn´t suite a mature and sensible person like you. This is a brilliant moment and you can post as many times as you wish to cherish it, but it´s sheer rubbish to base one´s argument upon it!

Originally Posted by JeeraBlade I was expecting a "true patriotic Indian" to defend an Indian batsman but coming from a "true patriotic Pakistani", I am surprised. Anybody else surprised?

Of course you are welcome to continue with this unrelated drivel of yours. Pretty old stuff this as I have got used to this. I hope one day you will learn to stay on topic.

[Random Aussie]

Originally Posted by JeeraBlade I was expecting a "true patriotic Indian" to defend an Indian batsman but coming from a "true patriotic Pakistani", I am surprised. Anybody else surprised?

I am not surprised someone on here has called his patriotism into question just because he does not agree with the cheerleaders.

[DHONI183]

Imran Nazir looks good but hardly have got to see him in Pakistan colours. Any takers of Inzamam being one, against spinners particularly? TM Dilshan immediately comes to my mind. His team-mate Mahela Jayawerdene is quite impressive whenever he pulls one.

[srg]

Ponting plays pull shot really well. Sachin used to play well, but stopped playing it now a days as he is being too cautious.

[waqar_ahmad]

Originally Posted by saeed-sohail aamir sohail ,hayden were good too.

Man I loved the aamir sohail pull shot. It was very good to watch

[BD-fan]

Originally Posted by JeeraBlade Same place where thge bouncers have gone. With the limit of bouncers per over, the better question would have been: Where are the bouncers? With the cry babies & incompetent player like these, who could not play bouncers at all, the hook and pulls have become extinct. Read the result of match at the bottom of the score card: http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64167.html Plus we don't have the fast bowlers that we had from 1975 through 1985.

Quote of the day. This is the real cause. Very insightful. Limiting the bouncers had made batsmen like this. The Commentator said Shakib has a fetish on pulling in the last innings.

[Golden arm]

Why are some people more comfortable against short-pitched deliveries than others?
The same reason why some people drive the ball better than others. People who are brought up on slow and low tracks are primarily front-foot players and hence find it difficult to get their body in the right position to play a bouncer. The right position would be to get inside the line while staying side on. Staying outside the line would mean fetching it from off side, and squaring on would force you to fend at the ball.

The pull and the hook are instinctive shots against the bouncer, and picking the length is the key to executing them perfectly. It is essential to have the right back-lift (bat going higher than the bounce) and to get the body in the right position (inside the line of the ball) for one to be able to play these shots well.

A lot of people start off suspect against the short ball, but work their way through; those who can't, fail to make it to next level. Michael Bevan was one such. On the contrary Yuvraj Singh is someone who worked countless hours with the bowling machine to get it right and has succeeded.

here is the answer to good hooker or puller , taken from akash chopra article.its an amazing read. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/con...ry/414852.html