The Spin | Dangerous, decadent, depraved: cricket’s love affair with the cover drive

The shot has been described as the purest expression of batting and a destroyer of innings, matches and careersTaunton, 3 April 2026. Somerset are hosting Nottinghamshire, the defending county champions, in their first fixture of the new season and are 20 for two having been sent into bat. It’s murky and cold. The batters wear cable-knit sweaters and the spectators in the crowd have wisely decided not to eschew their winter coats. Plenty peer out at the action from under tightly drawn hoods.The...