There is a lot of confusion between the pull and the hook. Although they look quite similar, the basic difference is that the pull is played to a ball around waist height, the hook to a higher one at shoulder or head height, usually a bouncer. The hook is a harder shot to keep down (and safe) than the pull. Both shots have the effect of irritating the bowler and his response is likely to be venemous.


The pull is a back-foot shot with a hint of arrogance, since the ball's taken early, generally at arm's length in front of the batsman, and dispatched through (or over) the leg side, often in front of square. It is a dismissive shot that says to the bowler 'is that the best that you can do?' and suggests the batsman is seeing the ball well.


However, the batsman should then prepare himself for a bouncer. Atherton will tend to pull only on a very reliable pitch (you can easily come a cropper if the ball keeps low) or if he's played himself in. Because he tends to sit on the back foot, he's in a good initial position to play this shot to a shortish delivery rising to about rib height.