WATCH: Batter Scores A Boundary Of The Back Of The Bat In T20 Blast

Cricket Image for WATCH: Batter Scores A Boundary Of The Back Of The Bat In T20 Blast (Image Source: Twitter)

In the ever-evolving game of cricket, everybody needs to try and do different things to be one step ahead of the opposition. For this only reason, the batters have begun to play outrageous shots and bowlers have invented different variations. 

For instance, Kevin Pietersen was the one who popularised the switch hit that revolutionized shot-making. T20 requires such inventions on regular basis. In the T20 blast, yet another shot has now been played. 

During the Derbyshire vs Leicestershire match, Leus du Plooy played a ramp shot with a different touch. He played the shot with the back of his bat that went for a boundary. While facing spinner Scott Steel, du Plooy cleverly put his bat in a position where the ball bounced off his bat, above the wicket-keeper, and went to the boundary. 

du Plooy scored an unbeaten 38 in that match, taking Derbyshire to 159 in the first inning. Leicestershire got bowled out for just 89 runs while chasing the target. 

Everyone: Show them the maker's name!
Leus du Plooy: Like this?

A 360-degree player of a different kind #OneClubOurCounty #ThisIsDerbyshire pic.twitter.com/JeInarSKVj

— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) May 29, 2022

Is Scoring Runs From Back Of The Bat Legal In Cricket? 

Yes. The MCC laws don't mention anywhere that hitting the ball from the back of the bat is illegal. The law considers the whole bat from front to bat as one and the batter can score runs from any part of it. 

Law 5.6: Contact with the ball says: In these Laws,

5.6.1 reference to the bat shall imply that the bat is held in the batter’s hand or a glove worn on his/her hand, unless stated otherwise.

5.6.2 contact between the ball and any of 5.6.2.1 to 5.6.2.4

5.6.2.1 the bat itself

5.6.2.2 the batter’s hand holding the bat

5.6.2.3 any part of a glove worn on the batter’s hand holding the bat

5.6.2.4 any additional materials permitted under 5.4 

shall be regarded as the ball striking or touching the bat or being struck by the bat.