Custom Bats Cricket Forum
General Cricket => Cricket Training, Fitness and Injuries => Topic started by: EaglesCC on October 24, 2012, 12:35:25 PM
-
I don’t mean ball tampering or fielding. I mean when batting; being able to pick the seam position, rough or smooth side of the ball (which way it’s likely to swing), or the revolutions on a ball when playing spin.
Professional batsmen worth their salt can not only pick all of this but judge how to play the delivery within few split seconds.
This is something which doesn’t seem to come naturally to me. I have to play the ball ‘as it happens’ and hope I’m good enough to make those small but crucial adjustments based on what ball actually does rather than predicting what might happen because of how it leaves the hand.
I’m wondering if this is purely an eye sight thing/ level I play at thing or something I can learnt?
-
You can learn it - especially if you're batting with someone who can help you out.
Firstly, worth getting your eyes tested - I needed glasses for two years before I got them, and it was surprising the difference that they made.
Secondly, think what specifically you want to look for. This will differ from bowler to bowler, but there area few obvious variables. To whit, for a seamer, you want to look which way the seam is canted and whether the thumb is visible on the bottom of the ball.
-
no i dont pick the ball up..
all i watch is where the ball is released out of the hand if its gonna be short or full.
if its wide of my off stump if its coming in going away etc im not bothered im having a swing at it lol
-
You can learn it - especially if you're batting with someone who can help you out.
Firstly, worth getting your eyes tested - I needed glasses for two years before I got them, and it was surprising the difference that they made.
Secondly, think what specifically you want to look for. This will differ from bowler to bowler, but there area few obvious variables. To whit, for a seamer, you want to look which way the seam is canted and whether the thumb is visible on the bottom of the ball.
Could you please elaborate on the underlined/bold section please...
-
no i dont pick the ball up..
all i watch is where the ball is released out of the hand if its gonna be short or full.
if its wide of my off stump if its coming in going away etc im not bothered im having a swing at it lol
I thought you were going to say "close my eyes and swing" lol
-
Could you please elaborate on the underlined/bold section please...
Yes; we covered on another thread how, to maximise the chances of swing, the thumb should exist only to hold the ball stable. That should mean that it sits too far back on the ball for the tip to be visible as the bowler runs in - however, if it is visible, then I tend to expect either a slower ball (all three major type that are bowled in club cricket can be picked up this way) or an effort ball. You should know which it is as the bowler gathers...
...of course, knowing what you expect to be coming and playing it are two different things...
-
I have fat little fingers so you'd be stuffed against me.
-
I thought you were going to say "close my eyes and swing" lol
nick i am a run machine i do not do this
-
Yes; we covered on another thread how, to maximise the chances of swing, the thumb should exist only to hold the ball stable. That should mean that it sits too far back on the ball for the tip to be visible as the bowler runs in - however, if it is visible, then I tend to expect either a slower ball (all three major type that are bowled in club cricket can be picked up this way) or an effort ball. You should know which it is as the bowler gathers...
...of course, knowing what you expect to be coming and playing it are two different things...
Oh ok thanks
-
You can learn it - especially if you're batting with someone who can help you out.
Firstly, worth getting your eyes tested - I needed glasses for two years before I got them, and it was surprising the difference that they made.
Secondly, think what specifically you want to look for. This will differ from bowler to bowler, but there area few obvious variables. To whit, for a seamer, you want to look which way the seam is canted and whether the thumb is visible on the bottom of the ball.
Whilst this may be true at certain levels of cricket, I can guarantee you at most club levels, a bowler may very well be moving it around without any of the tells described!
-
Whilst this may be true at certain levels of cricket, I can guarantee you at most club levels, a bowler may very well be moving it around without any of the tells described!
its possible, yes, though I have not seen it regularly!
-
I have fat little fingers so you'd be stuffed against me.
but you bowl spin anyways!
-
news to me? ive never seen him turn a ball!
-
apart from the ones you drop :)
Bowled swing/seam for 20 odd years. The Vulcan or split finger can be bowled with the thumb on the bottom, in fact I couldn't grip the ball without the thumb :), but you're right alot of slower balls rely on the thumb coming off the ball.
-
here is a tip .......
spend your winter nets keeping to spinners and medium pacers .... once you do that bowlers should be easier to pick
-
here is a tip .......
spend your winter nets keeping to spinners and medium pacers .... once you do that bowlers should be easier to pick
true
-
you dont need to catch the ball just stand there and work out what they are doing and also think about this ..........
........... a keeper keeps for 50 overs a game facing every ball ...... thats 300 balls a game
some batsmen dont face that amount in a season and the concentration levels are improved too.
I keep wicket and i open the batting, I can pick most bowlers especially slower balls and cutters.
-
Sometimes alot easier to watch the game. Handy to do a stint of umpiring at the start of a game. Work out what they are all doing and who bowls what. Been a very useful way of knowing what the bowler is doing before you go out to the crease. Alternatively, go old school and stand behind the keeper on the boundary for a few overs.
-
the other thing to consider is when do you start looking at the ball... at the point of release, after its release, before its release at the start of the action or at the start of the run up...
and are you watching the ball or actually trying to watch the seam on the ball.
My view is that you need to watch the ball at least from the point the bowler get to the "coil" part of his action. where possible you should try to watch for the seam rather than just the ball.
As for picking bowlers - standing as a keeper or first slip you is a great way to learn the variations.
During the bowling warm ups, I like to stand behind the keeper as he takes the ball to get a feel for how the ball is moving in the air and to get my eyes adjusted to the game...
-
During the bowling warm ups, I like to stand behind the keeper as he takes the ball to get a feel for how the ball is moving in the air and to get my eyes adjusted to the game...
It is an interesting thought this - the majority of good slip fielders are batsmen, I think we can all agree on that; I doubt it is coincidence that watching the ball closely affects both arts, whereas bowling/out fielding is more reliant on grunt work!
-
Just a note,
Especially against spin, you "pick" it based on the action, not what the ball is doing as it comes down the track. If your looking to seen what way its spinning as it comes down, your on a hiding to nothing!!!
I dont know what you're doing if your trying to pick swing!?!?
-
Ross, that may be how you do it, and that's the way I play too, but if you listen to top players they do use other techniques. I believe 'picking' the swing is normally based on spotting which side the bowler is holding the shiny side of the ball.
-
ask the none striker to give you a signal ........he cansee the bowler shine it then place it in his fingers and maybe spot it int he run up to
hold bat in right hand for inswing .... left hand for away swing .... both if not sure
-
I've heard players in the past day top batsman can see which side is the shiny side when the bowlers running up, My eye sight is spot on and I think it's a bit unrealistic, the only thing I can tell from 22+ yards is the colour of the ball
-
I'm with you guys who have suggested that keeping and maybe first slip too are a major benefit. On the very rare occasions when I've had to keep it has almost been like having a decent net prior to batting (obviously when batting second). Even at its most basic, and without picking swing, spin etc. it was hugely beneficial in 'getting' the pace and bounce of the track.
-
You should be able to spot swing from a bowlers setup in the action. It's very difficult to not change wrist or action (at club level) and move it both ways. In fact it's pretty rare anybody can move it both ways in club cricket.
-
also the width of the crease at release, wide and it will be coming into you, close to the stumps going away
-
Oddly, Mark Garaway wrote a very interesting piece on this on Pitchvision - if anyone wants a copy PM me your email address.
-
I took up part time keeping and usually stand in the slips (when I’m not keeping) – purely so it would help when I’d batting. I admit it’s a great way of generally picking pace and bounce of the wicket but as said – all I can tell is the colour of the ball but no way can I pick which is the smooth or shiny side, or what revolutions are on the ball.
When batting I tend to keep my eye on the ball from the moment the bowler runs up but that’s purely to ensure I watch the ball – There is no way I can make out the position of the seam or rough smooth side.