The leave is sometimes considered a cricket shot,
even though the batsman physically does not play at or interfere with the ball
as it passes him. The leave is likely to be used by batsmen during the first
few balls they receive, to give themselves time to judge the conditions of the
pitch and the bowling before attempting to play a shot.
Leaving a delivery is a
matter of judgement and technique. The batsman still has to watch the ball
closely to ensure that it will not hit him or the wicket; he also has to ensure
that his bat and hands are kept out of the path of the ball so that it cannot
make accidental contact and possibly lead to him being out caught.