-Batting Tip 1 - Keep your eyes level. Research has shown that having the eyes level speeds up your reaction time, which is all important. Having the eyes level as the ball is being delivered assists the brain to process the incoming information.

-Batting Tip 2 - Watch the ball from the bowler's hand. By this I mean watch it all the way from run up to bat. This helps you determine what the bowler is trying to do with the ball. See if you can see the shiny side so that you can tell which way he is trying to swing the ball. With spin bowlers, watch the wrist movement for the same reason.

-Batting Tip 3 - A cardinal rule - play the ball according to its length. Watch Ricky Ponting hook or pull the short ball. Watch Brian Lara play a cover drive to a well pitched up ball.

-Batting Tip 4 - Move your shoulders towards the line of the ball. Don't worry too much about the rest of the body as it will naturally follow.

-Batting Tip 5 - When facing a spinner it helps to make a small forward movement on to the front foot. This helps in getting your feet going as well as providing a good foundation from which to play your stroke.

-Batting Tip 6 - Maintain a firm balance, otherwise you are not able to play strokes with sureness and authority. Look at star batsmen from various countries - their scoring strokes are characterized by perfect balance.

In summary - level your eyes, watch the ball from the bowlers hand, play according to length, move your shoulders towards line of the ball, forward movement against the spinners and perfect balance.