A leading edge occurs when a batter tries to hit the ball toward the leg side, but the ball strikes the front or ‘leading’ face of the bat instead. This causes the ball to fly off in the opposite direction, usually high into the air on the offside, resulting in an easy catch for a fielder.
Example: The batter closed the face of his bat too early, and the leading edge flew straight to the fielder at point.
Pro-Tip: This usually happens when a player is too eager to hit a ‘closing’ shot against a ball that is moving away from them. To avoid it, batters must wait for the ball to come under their eyes and ensure they hit through the line of the ball rather than across it.
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