Print

[tommo256]

afternoon chaps,

I have completely lost my mojo with the ball, I am at the point in which I don't really want to come on and bowl now.
I took 21 wickets in the first half of the season, and in the past 2 weeks it has all gone to pot.
Im bowling a lot of front foot no balls, im spraying it all over the place and have just lost all rhythm and ability it seems.

any advice would be superb!

cheers guys
x

[uknsaunders]

Relax and imagine you are bowling in the nets.

[leatherseat]

Always tricky giving advice without seeing you, first hand.
From your post, it sounds as thought the run up may be the cause of your issues - once you start thinking too much about overstepping, where your feet should be etc, then rhythm disappears. I suspect that if you can smooth your run up, then your rhythm and control will return. Has anything else changed (eg are you loosening up more, or less, than before? Bowling from a different end, such as up-hill?).

There is a caveat that tinkering with your run mid-season is not ideal, as it can take some work to get right. That out of the way, it might be worth trying afresh with your run up. One popular method for this is to go onto the outfield (nowhere near stumps, just an open space) and mark the start of your run. Ideally have a friend with you. Then go through a comfortable run up - building pace steadily (I am assuming you are not bowling spin). Once you are at a comfortable pace, bowl. Mark where you have bowled from (ie front foot landed - this is where the friend helps). Measure back to the start of your mark. Try this new run up to get it 'grooved'.

Alternatively, mark your usual run up, in the nets (perhaps without a batsman) and try to hone it. Again, with a friend. Try to find a spot to put a second mark - partway through your run, that you 'hit' when your run is working smoothly. After several more attempts in the nets, this second mark should then be marked in a match - once you hit the mark, you know your run up is 'on cue' and will hopefully reduce your anxiety about over-stepping. Once the anxiety goes, then you can focus on where the ball is going and what you are trying to do with it.

Good luck.

David

[ruack]

I don't know if your a fast bowler or spin bowler. I don't know if you recently changed your action/run up. A little more information would have been helpful.

I am assuming you are a fast bowler. I can think of several reasons why you are facing this problem. The first question i would like to ask is, are you playing in a different field now? Field (not being smooth) might be the reason why you lost your rhythm and overstepping.

If field isn't the issue, are you trying to bowl faster than first part of the season? Earlier in my career when i tried to bowl faster i overstepped. It was a mental problem. I thought if i get a little bit closer to the batsman, the batsman will face a faster ball. It was really stupid. Over striding is not the correct way to bowl faster.

Not being relaxed and trying too hard might also be the reason. If this is the issue, as Peter Philipott said, steady yourself, grip, make up your mind what to bowl and where, run in, stare at your target, clear your mind of all else but this ball, spin it hard at the target (Philipott said it for leg spinners but it's true for all).

If the above three is not your problem, the only advice i can give is - get a new run up. The easiest way to get the correct run up is to run it backwards from the front crease line towards the sightscreen and then mark it (With the help of a teammate/friend/coach). When you run back the other way towards the stump from the marking spot, you should find it works. As Glenn McGrath said, do not run very fast from the start. Slowly build up your speed and run at a comfortable pace.

Don't forger to post your update.

[mini998]

Buy new bowling boots , always help

[FvanN]

Run in and bowl a little slower till you can get your line and length back then increase the pace again.

To be fair there is no excuse for front foot no balls Just pull your run up back 5-6 Inches

[Jaffa]

A team-mate's action was helped by an ex-pro quick bowler. He said to start your run up from the crease and run towards where you'd have your mark, blindfolded!!!

Repeat this a number of times and have someone mark where you 'launch' from. Your action may vary but after a short while you will settle into your nautral rhythm.

[tommo256]

I'm struggling with complete confidence, I've alwYs suffered with front foot no balls, but I coped and recently it had got on top of me.
I haven't changed anything at all, I've suddenly just lost it all is all I can describe it as.
I have no rhythm, leading to me spraying to all parts.
Can I hire a bowling coach?

[leatherseat]

Sounds like you need to sort your run up out - find one that you feel comfortable with and can replicate time and time again.

Go through the process of trying a new run up, suggested (by several) above, with one or two colleagues/ friends to help mark the take off point. Then practice and practice it. It can be done in the garden/ park, as well as at nets. In the nets, take the front foot landing spot (mark the crease and get a teammate to check the landing point, don't try to check it yourself) and rhythm, seriously every ball. It needs to become ingrained. Some bowlers may have a tune in their head which allows them to feel a given rhythm, others (eg Richard Hadlee) have used a mantra of two or three key words, said at a steady rate, to give some sense of timing (eg 'Anderson, length, stumps'). Watch some Youtube clips of long jumpers/ triple jumpers working on their runups. They have it down to a fine art (but still sometimes overstep). Find what works for you and keep practicing.

Your new run may be significantly different from your existing one. It may be that a shorter run will allow it to be replicated more easily. It is important that it gives you smooth acceleration to a balanced take off point. In marking your run a second mark may be used, say 10m from the front crease which your right (or left ) foot needs to hit each time.

You mention a bowling coach - where are you based - perhaps you can ask on here for a recommendation?

Let us know what you try and how you get on.

David

Are there any experienced bowlers (or a coach) at your club who may be able to help?

[RossViper]

2 bad weeks? man up a bit?

[tommo256]

I am! But I'm top wicket taker in the league and for it all to go pot is quite depressing