I've been playing badminton for quite some time now and was wondering if my badminton skills help me in the cricket game?
Should I be more fit to be a batsman (hand-eye coordination), defending the wicket, or should I focus on being a bowler (smash, clears).
While the techniques of badminton are unlikely to be directly transferable to cricket, nevertheless virtually any sport that improves hand-eye coordination will have a positive impact on one's cricket, particularly one's batting and fielding. The great English batsman Colin Cowdrey reputedly used to warm up for batting by playing the game of rackets. The young Don Bradman hit a golf ball against a wall with a stick. All such exercise is beneficial.
If anything, I would expect a player of racket sports to be more immediately comfortable with square-bat shots (the cut and the pull), and to require more training in straight-bat shots (particularly the drives).
If you are a beginner, I would advise against solely focussing your efforts on one discipline. By all means start with batting, since you have experience in a racket sport; however, you may also find you have ability as a bowler. The more "strings to your bow", the better!
Phil Horne of New Zealand was a double international player - representing his country at the highest levels of both cricket and badminton. So yes, there is evidence that the skills are transferable.
