In cricket, what is an "inside edge"?
VerifiedAnswer: It's when the ball hits the side of the bat closest to the batsman's body.
Explanation:
An inside edge is one of the most common ways a batsman can get dismissed or change the direction of the ball in cricket. When we talk about the "inside" of the bat, we're referring to the edge that faces toward the batsman's body when they hold the bat in their normal batting stance.
Think of it this way - if you're a right-handed batsman, the inside edge would be the left side of your bat blade. For a left-handed batsman, it would be the right side of the bat blade. This happens when the batsman tries to play a shot but doesn't make clean contact with the middle of the bat, and instead, the ball catches the edge closest to their legs.
Inside edges often occur when a batsman is trying to play aggressive shots like drives or pulls, but the ball moves slightly inward or the batsman's timing is slightly off. The result can vary depending on the situation:
• The ball might deflect onto the stumps, resulting in the batsman being bowled
• It could fly toward the wicket-keeper or slip fielders for a potential catch
• The ball might hit the batsman's pads, leading to an LBW appeal
• Sometimes, it just deflects away safely, giving the batsman another chance
Bowlers often try to induce inside edges by bowling deliveries that move into the batsman after pitching, such as inswingers or deliveries that seam inward off the pitch. Fast bowlers particularly target this area because batsmen sometimes get cramped for room when trying to play their shots.
Understanding inside edges is crucial for both batsmen and fielding teams. Batsmen work on their technique to avoid getting these edges, while bowlers and captains set fielding positions specifically to catch balls that come off inside edges. You'll often see fielders positioned at short leg or silly mid-on to capitalize on these deflections.
