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[Chad]

Hey guys, just wanting to start a topic on bowling for a slight change. I was wondering what the bowlers among us try to do to get batsman out. I know this is a very very general question, as our bowling tactics change depending on the type of batsman and the situation.

For myself, I normally open the bowling, so I tend to bowl full and swing the ball in, hoping to catch the batsman off guard. I am generally good at bowling at the death, and I think there was a point where 5 times out of 6, I could pitch a yorker. If I'm bowling to a guy strong at pulling the ball I will be pitching full almost all the time, so a short one to see if they are alert is what I normally do and follow up with a yorker/attempted yorker. Of course, I am hoping to play at a higher level next year, so a ball swinging in at 60mph or so may not be much of a problem for most batsman, so I am interested to see what others think, as most of you guys probably play at a much higher level than myself!

[tim2000s]

Do you bowl straight, pitched slightly back of a length, on or just outside off at all? That would give you something to bowl as standard, then the inswingers are used as variation.

[RossViper]

Well if he's swings in all the time a better option would be to do that from out side off and then the straight one, on the same line, higher chance of wickets I would thing?

[uknsaunders]

When I bowled medium trundle in my younger days, I bowled at Minor County bats, overseas etc and I think the basics still hold true, ball straight and bowl a good length. Better batsman have more time and are clinical in despatching the bad ball, but respect the good delivery more so than your average 3rd teamer. It's really elimination of bad balls particularly against quality batsman. You also tend to get bully batsman who look a million dollars and go after you from ball one, going over the top. Key thing is to set your field deeper and keep plugging away, hold your nerve as they always give a few chances - that's why they don't play a higher standard. As Tim said, having a variation helps. If you bowl big inswingers, a little straightener can get the best bats out if bowled in the right areas.

[Chad]

Do you bowl straight, pitched slightly back of a length, on or just outside off at all? That would give you something to bowl as standard, then the inswingers are used as variation.

I tend to bowl a variation. I swing the ball both ways, assuming the wind isn't blowing too heavily, so I either try to plug away with outswingers and then bowl the straighter/inswinging ball, or swing the ball in lots and then the straighter/outswinging ball.

I am quite a short bowler, so I can't get away with bowling just short of a length on our wickets. Everything has to be full, and since I'm not bowling with pace, ie 70+, I don't have a huge amount I can do to beat the batsman for pace. I have put a lot of thought into my bowling, and I really like swinging the ball and seeing batsmen fall over or try fetch the ball, but I just feel I have lost my effectiveness ever since I started thinking! I did take a 5 and a 4 wicket haul in consecutive games last season, but had a few awful games as well! Maybe the winter nets will be something to look at to work things out!

Some people say that if you bowl wider of the crease, it suggests that you are trying to move the ball in. I think one of the things I will try this season is bowling from different widths, as in one net, I was bowling inswingers and outswingers like I normally do, and the batsman was playing everything absolutely fine, but the moment I bowled from right next to the wicket and swung in a yorker, the batsman was clueless and bowled. (Really made my day as the guy is a good batsman!)

Oh yeah, please feel free to post your own tactics, as I didn't really make this thread to find out what I could do to improve my game, but more what others do. Oh, and is there any way we can lock this thread from batsmen? The last thing we want is for them to know what we will be planning!

[uknsaunders]

Apart from your variations I don't think you plan anything special. Knowing how the batsman plays only happens on the second visit unless you have some inside knowledge. If you pick up any technical issues or favoured scoring areas early on, it'll help. It always amazes me how many captains and bowlers don't study the guy batting.

[Chad]

Apart from your variations I don't think you plan anything special. Knowing how the batsman plays only happens on the second visit unless you have some inside knowledge. If you pick up any technical issues or favoured scoring areas early on, it'll help. It always amazes me how many captains and bowlers don't study the guy batting.

Yeah, I think I got absolutely battered for 19 runs in an over by a guy who was batting at 9! He quite clearly had a hockey playing background, as every run was scored on the on side. I just had absolutely no clue what to do, as I had never been flicked for a 6 from a yorker. From hindsight, I should have known by the way he gripped the bat and was playing earlier etc, but I think learning how to bat, and signs of different kinds of batsmen is key to bowling intelligently. You see international players normally have a specific bowling plan for specific batsmen, so maybe bowlers should try do the same, or at least learn how to analyse a batsman's game and forumlate a plan.

[Jagminder]

I always think 'my over' to be a game theory demonstration.
I just keep thinking as a batsman (being an opening bat myself helps).
I am left armer - my stock delivery is into the right hander but can bowl outswinger at will
I bowl regular balls at 80 % strength (I am slow for your english standards - decent for US ).
I bowl  the short pitch quicker - that really helps.
But my main focus is miss the batsman's middle of the bat and see how it goes - with that theory playing for a strong fielding side really helps.

honestly I dont think I can bowl quicker than 65mph. LOL I rely on my swing and BRAIN to get into batsmen's skins.

Jag. 

[Jagminder]

It always amazes me how many captains and bowlers don't study the guy batting.

It amazes me as well. But to a fair point we here in US are weekend warriors and most are just to enjoy their cricket.

[ajm90]

I tend to find that identifying a batsmans main scoring areas and cutting them off to dry up the run rate (e.g bowling slightly back of a length outside off to a front foot legside dominant batsman) will lead to the batsman getting frustrated and giving away his wicket eventually.

[Blazer]

Slight variations in pace not necessarily back of the hand slow balls can upset timing slightly and get dot balls which leads to wickets.

[ProCricketer1982]

I'm constantly watching oppo's batsmen while fielding. YOu can pick up fairly quickly what are their favoured shots etc etc. I'm not high up in my club so don't really say anything but if you are you can start to talk to the bowler and set fields etc to them. Dry up the runs etc and build pressure. Most batsmen will make a mistake at the lower levels so playing the 'you miss I hit' game isn't a bad strategy!

[ajm90]

Also consistency is a huge key if you can bowl 8 overs of medium pace on an around the top of off stump you will more than likely get a couple of wickets.

[Chad]

Slight variations in pace not necessarily back of the hand slow balls can upset timing slightly and get dot balls which leads to wickets.

This is why my brother is much more successful in taking wickets. There was this lad who was well set, and wasn't troubled by any ball, and then my brother comes in, darts a few on a good full length, then bowls a slower ball yorker, which the batsman saw as a full toss, had already swung his bat before the ball was 3/4 down the pitch and was subsequently bowled. When he managed that, because we have trained and played cricket together pretty much as soon as we started cricket, he knew I would be absolutely gutting myself and turned around to me at mid-on and started laughing while pointing at me.

[tim2000s]

Generally, most amateur captains aren't good at working out how to get wickets. One of the key aspects is that you not only need to know what to bowl, but you need to able to bowl to your field. That's how the pressure is built.

If you have an offside field set to a guy who will be strangled by it, the wicket will come as he tries to work it to leg.

It always helps to have a senior bowler on the field who can help the younger ones and advise the captain.