Shivnarine Chanderpaul: The Crab-Like Genius
Perhaps the most famous example of an unorthodox stance belongs to West Indian legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul. His technique was famously described as "crab-like" because he stood almost fully front-on to the bowler, chest open, instead of in the traditional
side-on position. This 90-degree deviation from the norm was developed to give him a clear view of the bowler with both eyes. As the bowler delivered the ball, he would shuffle into a more conventional position, allowing him to play the ball incredibly late with immense precision. Despite its awkward appearance, the stance was devastatingly effective, enabling Chanderpaul to score over 20,000 international runs and cement his place as one of the game's most resilient and prolific batters.
Steve Smith: The Fidgety Master
Modern great Steve Smith is a walking contradiction of the coaching manual. His stance is characterised by a significant shuffle across the crease, a wide gap between his feet, and constant, fidgety movements of his bat. This perpetual motion can be distracting for bowlers and viewers alike, but it is a core part of his method. The pronounced shuffle across his stumps is designed to negate the risk of LBW and open up the leg side for scoring. Combined with his extraordinary hand-eye coordination, this eccentric technique allows him to adapt to any type of bowling and has made him one of the most dominant Test batsmen of his generation, with an average close to 60.
George Bailey: The Back-to-Front Anomaly
Former Australian captain George Bailey took unorthodoxy to another level with a stance that saw him stand with his back almost completely facing the bowler. With his feet pointing towards the slip cordon, it looked more like he was expecting the ball from an entirely different direction. Bailey explained that this bizarre, closed-off setup was a corrective measure. It was designed to prevent his front hip from opening up too early against a swinging ball, which had previously caused him trouble. By starting in this extreme position, he forced his back foot to remain side-on, giving him a stable base. Just before the ball was released, he would pivot into a more conventional hitting position.
Lance Klusener: The Baseball Slugger
South African all-rounder Lance Klusener was a pioneer of power-hitting in the late 1990s, and his stance was a huge part of his success. He adopted a "baseball-like" approach, holding his famously heavy bat extremely high, sometimes up to his shoulder level. This exceptionally high backlift allowed him to generate immense bat speed and swing through the line of the ball like a club, sending it to all parts of the ground. While devastating in limited-overs cricket, bowlers eventually found that it could be a hindrance on slower pitches. Nevertheless, for a period, Klusener's unique method made him one of the most feared finishers in the game.
Fawad Alam: The Chanderpaul Disciple
Pakistani batsman Fawad Alam's stance draws immediate comparisons to Shivnarine Chanderpaul, but with his own unique twist. Like the West Indian great, Alam employs a very open, front-on stance. However, he stands far outside his leg stump with a pronounced crouch, taking a large step back towards the stumps just as the bowler enters the delivery stride. This unusual movement allows him, in his view, to get a better look at the ball and play with more freedom. While it has been criticised by some, Alam has enjoyed remarkable success, particularly upon his return to Test cricket, proving that his highly individual technique is effective at the highest level.
