Topic: No balls - how to stop them? (Read 5530 times)

KettonJake · « **on:** June 03, 2021, 10:42:52 PM »

I�ve got a bowler at my club who can be unplayable one week and then in the next game is constantly overstepping and throwing a few full tosses and wides in as well when it really unravels

He doesn�t seem to respond to the carrot or the stick. I have tried breaking his run up down entirely and adding in the things that I think will help. This made a difference briefly and he even took a 5 wicket haul in a 1s league game as recently as 2 weeks ago.

On Tuesday we had a t20 cup game and in his one over he took a wicket, bowled a ball that moved so far off the seam I don�t think Bradman would have got close enough to nick it, and also went for a total of 17 extras!

I�m at a loss. Any ideas or advice welcome

Jimbo · « **Reply #1 on:** June 03, 2021, 10:53:39 PM »

Break it down even further, get him bowling off a few paces and see if there's inconsistency in the action.

Run up wise, try getting some cones, open space and have him bowl blind. Eyes closed and simulate bowling when it feels right. Very easy for bowlers to kid themselves their run up is correct because they want it to be.

edge · « **Reply #2 on:** June 04, 2021, 06:17:03 AM »

I had a problem with no balls a couple years ago after a spell of not bowling much and changing my action a little. Tried all the usual runup fiddling, didn't make any difference.

What solved it was to forget the runup and focus on where I was taking off. Worked out where I needed to be taking off to land in the right place, then marked that with a cone in nets for a few sessions. In games I'd pace out my takeoff, mark a line, then pace the rest of my run from there. Sorted it very quickly. Don't mark the takeoff point any more, but haven't bowled a no ball since.

KettonJake · « **Reply #3 on:** June 04, 2021, 11:10:33 AM »

OK, thank you all.

I was planning to try the blindfolded run up thing, but finding time with 3+ games a week is difficult.

SD · « **Reply #4 on:** June 04, 2021, 01:59:56 PM »

The two basics I would look at first are how he marks his runs up (is he consistently marking the right distance) and, if he is, whether the overstepping is caused by longer strides or more strides.

From my experience, stuttering in the run up letting to shorter strides is the biggest cause of missing your mark. Practicing the run up to the point of take off to get the feel of getting consistently in the right place to begin your action can be helpful

Warneymonster · « **Reply #5 on:** June 04, 2021, 02:21:47 PM »

this sounds more mental than physical to me, best thing for him will be wickets and overs to build confidence.

if that doesnt work, then break it down bit by bit to build rhythm

AJ2014 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 04, 2021, 06:17:40 PM »

Quote from: KettonJake on June 04, 2021, 11:10:33 AM

I was planning to try the blindfolded run up thing,

Would he know which way he's going then?

Chalkie · « **Reply #7 on:** June 04, 2021, 06:34:31 PM »

Are you playing on decent grounds where the run ups are fairly flat, or village like me where there is often a slope.

I often get the end bowling up the hill, so if I measure my run up out to my mark (down the hill) I then I can come up short when I run in (up the hill). Which is the opposite of our skipper (who is a lot quicker than me) he comes charging down the slope and regularly oversteps.

Once he starts overstepping it messes with his rhythm and his head, and then his line and length goes.

AJ2014 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 04, 2021, 07:49:20 PM »

Only thing I feel bowling up the sloop is that I need to bawl a bit quicker, down the sloop the opposite. Can't remember to have overstepped for a no ball. And I don't account steps etc. Just how I feel at that moment and one run from the bowling crease towards "my mark". I'm a spinner. But then I've seen spinners over stepping!

Chad · « **Reply #9 on:** June 04, 2021, 08:10:06 PM »

I think the suggestion @edge gave is great.

For myself, if I don't feel the foot I take off of is going to land at an adequate distance from the crease, my rhythm completely goes for that delivery, and I end up either pulling away, or bowling the ball about a yard before the crease. Maybe spend some time bowling from that stride prior to take off, let him figure out/get used to that feel distance wise? (Apologies if you've already tried this or I'm not too clear)

edynamo · « **Reply #10 on:** June 07, 2021, 11:39:48 AM »

Is the take off point consistent? Have you filmed his run up from the side?

Jaffa · « **Reply #11 on:** June 07, 2021, 11:51:21 AM »

Where is he looking?

I can deliver the occasional good ball but I notice sometimes I'm not focusing and not looking where I want the ball to land.

This varies of course if the batter is front, back or both type of player, but if I'm not looking where I want to (try and) put it, I haven't got a chance.

nivaga · « **Reply #12 on:** June 07, 2021, 02:11:26 PM »

Your description is exactly like somebody I knew. Swung between sizzling hot and stone cold as an opening bowler. Days of 5-vers and hatricks at critical moments followed by days where he would go for 40 runs in his 1st 2 overs (with many extras). Two things I noticed.

1. He always bowled better when bowling 2nd and especially when there weren't many runs on the board i.e. more focused on needing to bowl well. (And warmer than 1st thing in the morning?)

2. You could always tell in the 1st over if it was a good or bad day. If he had a bad 1st over he never bowled a good one after that. After a while it became clear that giving him another over to 'show faith' or 'because it could only get better' seldom worked. As soon as over 1 got away from him it just went to his head. He just seemed to try way too hard as soon as things went wrong ...

Sadly in his case it was clearly all in the head - lack of concentration and temperament. His batting was similar ... would bat 7 and oscillate between single figures and 50+ scores. If your head is not right then no matter how much technique you drill you just aint going to do well at cricket. Never did get it resolved. Eventually became a batting all-rounder who occasionally got thrown the ball at a safe stage of a game to 'see' if it was his day.

KettonJake · « **Reply #13 on:** June 08, 2021, 12:13:50 PM »

Quote from: nivaga on June 07, 2021, 02:11:26 PM

Your description is exactly like somebody I knew. Swung between sizzling hot and stone cold as an opening bowler. Days of 5-vers and hatricks at critical moments followed by days where he would go for 40 runs in his 1st 2 overs (with many extras). Two things I noticed.

1. He always bowled better when bowling 2nd and especially when there weren't many runs on the board i.e. more focused on needing to bowl well. (And warmer than 1st thing in the morning?)

2. You could always tell in the 1st over if it was a good or bad day. If he had a bad 1st over he never bowled a good one after that. After a while it became clear that giving him another over to 'show faith' or 'because it could only get better' seldom worked. As soon as over 1 got away from him it just went to his head. He just seemed to try way too hard as soon as things went wrong ...

Sadly in his case it was clearly all in the head - lack of concentration and temperament. His batting was similar ... would bat 7 and oscillate between single figures and 50+ scores. If your head is not right then no matter how much technique you drill you just aint going to do well at cricket. Never did get it resolved. Eventually became a batting all-rounder who occasionally got thrown the ball at a safe stage of a game to 'see' if it was his day.

I'm quite sure this must be the same person based on your description! So frustrating.

KettonJake · « **Reply #14 on:** June 08, 2021, 12:14:47 PM »

Quote from: edynamo on June 07, 2021, 11:39:48 AM

Is the take off point consistent? Have you filmed his run up from the side?

It is when i stand barking at him virtually step by step through his run up.
As soon as he's left to his own devices in a game situation it can go very inconsistent.

Concentration of a goldfish.

Author Topic: No balls - how to stop them? (Read 5530 times)

KettonJake

No balls - how to stop them?

Jimbo

Re: No balls - how to stop them?

edge

Re: No balls - how to stop them?

KettonJake

Re: No balls - how to stop them?

SD

Re: No balls - how to stop them?

Warneymonster

Re: No balls - how to stop them?

AJ2014

Re: No balls - how to stop them?

Chalkie

Re: No balls - how to stop them?

AJ2014

Re: No balls - how to stop them?

Chad

Re: No balls - how to stop them?

edynamo

Re: No balls - how to stop them?

Jaffa

Re: No balls - how to stop them?

nivaga

Re: No balls - how to stop them?

KettonJake

Re: No balls - how to stop them?

KettonJake

Re: No balls - how to stop them?