The ‘run sweep’ has been called many names: paddle sweep and lap sweep.

I call it the run sweep as the a batter uses the pace on the ball and lets the ball run off the face of the bat into a vacant short fine leg position for anything between 2 and 4 runs.

In the first of three articles on sweeping spinners, I look at the hard sweep: The ‘normal’ sweep where the ball is hit out towards the square leg boundary along the ground.

Many commentators are very critical on the shot and its use in any format of the game.

In England, I was bought up being told that you should not hit against the spin.

You can't hit with control and the bowler will end up getting your wicket, they used to tell me.

Every time I hit an off spinner for 4 between mid off and extra cover I was told it was risky.

But I reckon that in all my batting career scored 2000 runs with that one shot.

I don't know about you, my eyes are good, but they can’t freeze frame, move images forward and back frame by frame or calculate angles.

So to support my coaching, irrespective of the standard of players, I use cameras and computer applications to support my players learning and development.

In the modern world there is no excuse for a coach to avoid the use of video cameras and visual feedback with players.

The technology is so easy to use and accessible. Yet incredibly powerful.

 The great Des Haynes week continues on PitchVision Academy. In the show this week we interview the great man about his time playing in the outstanding West Indies sides of the 80s and 90s.

There no worse practice than when a set of bowlers practice one element of the game; and the batters try to work on another element entirely. 

Disjointed net sessions are counterproductive because nobody gets what they want: least of all you as the coach.

This is a simple yet highly effective drill I have used with players right up to international level to improve straight driving.

The drill is to get players to hit balls with all your weight on the front foot, the back leg in the air. The feed starts underarm before progressing through to throw-downs and bowling machines.

In the last few years modern innovative shots have become far more common.

But without tactics, all those dil-scoops, switch-hits, fine sweeps and charges down the wicket are ineffective.

All of these are words used to describe players who have certain rituals before every ball. But it’s not just meaningless; it’s a crucial aspect of their success.

Whether it’s a batsman fiddling with their pads or a bowler tossing the ball up before they start their run-up, they all use these rituals to score runs and take wickets.