Time a cricket stroke!!!

Batting is a matter of 'timing' rather than brute force. Timing a ball isn't a mystery, but a skill anyone can improve.

Is it that simple?
We all know that timing is the key but that's not as simple as it sounds. We use the term often and mean something simple: a shot that appears effortless but flies off the bat. Yet understanding the myriad of factors that go into it is more difficult.

This complexity comes with dealing with the paradox of batting: Timing is about the production of power yet the harder we try and hit the ball, the less timing we have.
Good technique is important when it comes to timing. In fact 'correct' technique is based solidly in real life physics.
Take Newton's third law of motion. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction:
Leaning into the shot makes the ground push back generating force through your body, into the bat and finally the ball. A high back-lift allows a longer downswing which produces more force.
Rotating your shoulders (vertically for straight bat and horizontally for cross bat) with your arms extended creates a longer lever and more force.

If you bring the bottom hand in too strongly, too early or at a different angle from the top hand your timing will be upset. If you make sure both hands work together as long and as straight as possible, all your shots will be better timed.

Few Tips:

• Call it confidence, concentration or relaxation, your mental state is directly related to your timing.
  
• When assessing the field before taking strike always look for the gaps, never at the fielders. You'll subconsciously hit the ball into the gaps as a result.
• Use your feet against spinners in defense as well as attack. You're much more likely to be stumped by inches than by yards.
• Remember that no matter how tired you are, the bowlers and fielders are feeling worse. If you feel your concentration slipping, call for a drink, remark your guard and survive to the end of the over.
• Turn your concentration off between balls and when not on strike. No-one can concentrate for two hours non stop.
• "Practice makes man perfect".
  

Few Warnings:

• Don't premeditate a shot, you can premeditate attack or defence as a principle, but never the actual shot to be played.
• Don't be riled by 'sledging' - the bowler always has to return to his mark so silence on your part always wins.
• Don't try to change your technique in the middle of an innings. Always work on something different or constructive in the nets - instead of trying to slog everything - but stick to what you know in a game. If you're never reverse swept before then a cup match isn't the time to first have a go.
• If you're going to slog, of course, hit hard! Remember- Timing matters!!!!