The art of batting has no set way of being carried out.

No two batters’ techniques are the same, and this uniqueness has provided us with a wide variety of elegant stroke makers over time.

The best have crafted their trade through endless sessions in the nets, facing delivery after delivery and forging a style of batting that suits and works for each individual.

We’ve seen orthodox and unorthodox batting stances with equal heights of success, highlighting that the art of batting is not one-size-fits-all.

Variety, personalities and contrasting approaches to the game of cricket have provided the characters and entertainment that make cricket such a popular sport worldwide.

Individuals in the sport will forever come up with new adaptations and intricacies to try and gain the upper hand or solidify their technique.

But sometimes, the lengths players push the norm to strike form baffles cricket fans alike.

Here are some players who adopted unusual yet revolutionary batting stances that baffled the cricketing sphere.

Kevin Pietersen

With over 8,000 England Test runs, Pietersen was one of the most stylish batters in recent history.

His destructive style of play was revolutionary and helped shape the landscape we see today.

A distinctive style of play made him so incredibly interesting to watch, with his feet very wide in his stance and constant motion around the crease, making him a nightmare to bowl to.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Chanderpaul, a West Indies legend, collected a magnificent 11,867 runs in his coveted Test career.

His class will be remembered for years to come, along with his unconventional yet fearless set-up at the crease.

With his torsoe fully open, staring down the bowler and his shoulder at square-leg, the batter was a big target with the shorter ball.

However his technique, likened to a ‘crab’ was dependable and brought repeated results.

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Steven Smith

At times in his career, ‘Smudge’ has been almost invincible, batting out sessions without giving the bowlers a sniff.

But the manner in which he carries out his work is by no means conventional.

Smith is a serial shuffler and his constant movement makes him impossible to read with his constant moments of unorthodox flare leaving us stunned with amazement.

A livewire at the crease and a lover of a leave makes Smith absolute box office to watch.

George Bailey

Perhaps the most mind-blowing stance of them all, stand up George Bailey for Australia.

The way that the Australian sets up makes him look as if he isn’t even facing the bowler, instead the fielder at point.

Watch the ball – we’ve all heard this at some point, but for Bailey, an unconventional stance has worked wonders.

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