A sweep is a cross-batted front foot shot played to a low bouncing ball, usually from a slow bowler, by kneeling on one knee, bringing the head down in line with the ball and swinging the bat around in a horizontal arc near the pitch as the ball arrives, sweeping it around to the leg side, typically towards square leg or fine leg. A paddle sweep shot is a sweep shot in which the ball is deflected towards fine leg with a stationary or near-stationary bat extended horizontally towards the bowler, whereas the hard sweep shot is played towards square leg with the bat swung firmly in a horizontal arc.
Typically the sweep shot will be played to a legside delivery, but it is
also possible for a batsman to sweep the ball to the legside from outside off
stump. Attempting to sweep a full straight delivery on the stumps is generally
not recommended because of the risk of lbw.