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General Cricket => Your Cricket => Topic started by: Village Trundler on October 26, 2011, 08:22:20 PM

Title: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: Village Trundler on October 26, 2011, 08:22:20 PM
So, in the new world of flat pitches, massive 4 pound laminate bats and full body armor for the batsmen, bowlers are still doing what they did 100 years ago and hurling a piece of leather and cork down the pitch at his increasingly advantaged foe.

So.... Bowlers fight back.... What tricks Di you use? What have you seen?

We've all seen the murrays mints shine used to fleece the ashes from Australia, back when chef couldn't bat and Punter could.

I've seen a  bottletop in the pocket to scuff a side of the ball and one half of the gameball being dipped in water and then frozen to swell the cork and cause uneven bounce.

Share your dark secrets with us!!
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: tim2000s on October 26, 2011, 08:25:29 PM
I think what you meant to say was "Do you cheat and if so, how?", no?
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: Wills on October 26, 2011, 08:26:30 PM
I've seen a cricketer bite a ball and get caught if that counts.
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: Nickauger on October 26, 2011, 08:26:57 PM
To which, the universal answer will be no lol.
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: johnnyw on October 26, 2011, 08:28:11 PM
Bite the ball afridi style....also get the saffas to accuse you of tampering the ball by stamping on it when it is rolling and hoping you get the rough side
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: Village Trundler on October 26, 2011, 08:29:08 PM
I think what you meant to say was "Do you cheat and if so, how?", no?

True enough! It's only cheating if you are caught though!
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: tim2000s on October 26, 2011, 08:32:51 PM
True enough! It's only cheating if you are caught though!
Surely the answer is "Why cheat when I'm good enough without" ;)
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: johan95 on October 26, 2011, 08:33:52 PM
I thought this might have been a batting question at first. How wrong I was! ;)
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: Blazer on October 26, 2011, 08:47:11 PM
Heard about vaseline and hair oil being used.
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: uknsaunders on October 26, 2011, 08:48:44 PM
remember one match where it was a beautiful day but had rained the night before. After 20 overs of batting,one of the oppo hit the ball for 4 and it rolled into the covers on the boundary. The ball rested in a puddle of water. It was dried off but for the next 2 overs it swung round corners, the poor lad bowled outswingers normally but for the next few balls it ducked in and down leg big time.

Going back 20 years ago we brought some cheap Indian balls for Sunday matches. On one occasion our home ground & pitch was absolutely bone dry and rock hard. Not surprisingly the cheap ball was knackered after 15 overs. This was the time when both teams used the same ball, so you can imagine the oppo who were bowling second weren't impressed. They got 240 odd batting first and we were 80-2, when all of a sudden this lad starting swinging it round corners. It all ducked in and went down leg but the bowler kept saying "I bowl outswingers normally, I don't understand it". He got taken off not long after. I took the match ball and played around with it in the nets and even at my modest pace it reversed, probably due to the totally shagged nature of the leather than any skill on my part. It's the only time I've seen a ball do that in 30 years.
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: Tumo on October 26, 2011, 08:49:31 PM
Ball manipulation? During a game the only thing I do is have a rummage when I'm batting against quickies to make sure they're still there! ;)

But seriously, suncream is a big one, I once saw someone using some sort of condiment (think it was salad cream!), don't think it worked too well mind...
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: Nickauger on October 26, 2011, 08:55:42 PM
Surely the answer is "Why cheat when I'm good enough without" ;)
Because Tim, you could be so much better  ;)
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: uknsaunders on October 26, 2011, 08:55:57 PM
If the surface is pretty abrasive and the ball gets roughed up, soak one side in sweat or 3/4 overs. I mean lots of sweat without shining it for a while. Seems to help swing more than just licking and polishing.

Tried suncream from the back of the neck and forehead, however the skipper said he couldn't hold the ball after a while and could I stop lol
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: jw17 on October 26, 2011, 09:02:24 PM
Bit of extra suncream on the hands and wipe it on the back of your trousers where you shine the ball! ;D
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: thecord on October 26, 2011, 09:07:33 PM
Bit of extra suncream on the hands and wipe it on the back of your trousers where you shine the ball! ;D
Guy at our club did that and all the lacquer came off that side of the ball, was a complete and utter embarrassment!
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: TommO on October 26, 2011, 09:22:18 PM
Alot of people use sweat with hair wax to help shine the ball.
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: uknsaunders on October 26, 2011, 09:41:50 PM
most people are missing the point with shining the ball. The skill is in keeping the thing roughed up on our lush pitches and outfields. Accidental treading on the ball can help if done without injury  :D

Don't forget to grip the ball correctly while shining ie. palm around one side while shining the other against the trouser, making sure your thumb is digging into the leather and lifting the seam while being obscured by the back of the hand
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: ajm90 on October 26, 2011, 09:56:45 PM
would sewing a bit of painted sandpaper to the back of your trousers be possible  ???
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: shazz on October 26, 2011, 09:58:21 PM
After drinks at a juice break, or juice at a drinks break, you get a nice sugary coat on the ball...

Heston Blumenthal recommends dipping in liquid nitrogen, before being blowtorched, leaving a crispy shell, and a frozen highly erect seam.
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: Tumo on October 26, 2011, 10:01:36 PM
After drinks at a juice break, or juice at a drinks break, you get a nice sugary coat on the ball...

Heston Blumenthal recommends dipping in liquid nitrogen, before being blowtorched, leaving a crispy shell, and a frozen highly erect seam.
Nothing about bacon flavoured ice-cream?
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: shazz on October 26, 2011, 10:04:50 PM
Nothing about bacon flavoured ice-cream?

Wouldn't mind giving that a try.
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: Simmy on October 27, 2011, 07:56:12 AM
suncream on the trousers has been done before but thats about it.

before the game when we pick a second ball that gets polished n cleaned up with polish but we do both sides etc just so it looks a better ball
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: langer17 on October 27, 2011, 08:14:53 AM
You've got the throw to the keeper that always bounces before him in an attempt to rough up the ball. Hard to controll which side it lands on, but it can work as long as you leave one side and vigorously shine the other.
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: shazz on October 27, 2011, 08:26:39 AM
That is not only useful for swing, but it also softens the ball meaning it goes less far off of the bat at the death. Watch out for that in 50 over and 20/20, and sometimes if one team are having a hack in a test and the ball is 60-80 overs old they will do it.
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: uknsaunders on October 27, 2011, 08:58:32 AM
You've got the throw to the keeper that always bounces before him in an attempt to rough up the ball. Hard to controll which side it lands on, but it can work as long as you leave one side and vigorously shine the other.

tried skimming it like a pebble across water? Hold the seam horizontal with the rough side facing the ground.
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: tim2000s on October 27, 2011, 09:16:06 AM
That is not only useful for swing, but it also softens the ball meaning it goes less far off of the bat at the death. Watch out for that in 50 over and 20/20, and sometimes if one team are having a hack in a test and the ball is 60-80 overs old they will do it.
Having been playing in a league where the ball has to last 90 overs, and they're rubbish balls that end up knackered after 20, I'd have to say that none of this really helps. I can shine a ball to a gleam with sweat and my trousers and make it swing at 40 overs old, but really it's a lump of soap by that point.
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: OMF on October 27, 2011, 09:21:17 AM
Guy at our club did that and all the lacquer came off that side of the ball, was a complete and utter embarrassment!
Said player was informed quite clearly that if we ever found out he had tried this again he would be dropped, and made to pay for a new box of balls.
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: OMF on October 27, 2011, 09:23:28 AM
You've got the throw to the keeper that always bounces before him in an attempt to rough up the ball. Hard to controll which side it lands on, but it can work as long as you leave one side and vigorously shine the other.

Thecord will no doubt testify that when keeping wicket he has to gather throws from the fielders on the 4th/5th bounce...
Title: Re: Ball manipulation techniques
Post by: thecord on October 27, 2011, 04:31:38 PM
Thecord will no doubt testify that when keeping wicket he has to gather throws from the fielders on the 4th/5th bounce...
I hope you aren't claiming that this is a tactic to get reverse swing!!!