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[Blazer]

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.

Most of the bowlers at our club bowls pretty much the same pace even while getting clobbered and bowl a really slow ball which can be spotted as well. Subtle changes in pace is surprisingly overlooked .

[LDifa]

I used to bowl medium paced out swing and the ball that always got wickets was the off break, ripping my pointing finger down the seam, two or three out, and one cutting back in really worked! the success was far higher than trying to ball a faster delivery, so I worked and worked really hard on my off spin, and have a quicker medium pace ball as a rare variation.

Watch the batter closely when you aren't fielding, look at his grip, hands too far apart could help a slower ball be hit high for an easy catch.

Keep it tight, don't give your skipper an easy excuse to replace you.

I love the cat and mouse game with a batter, but remember that batters are very rarely out to a good ball, it is when they lose concentration or go for a big shot, good balls are played with respect and are usually defended.

[ammo]

I bowl outswing so i try to bowl on or just out side off on a good legnth (not too full) mix it up with the occasional slower ball leg cutter and yourker on middle and legish area. I f i am bowig at the death just bowl really full and wideish outside off. not too much thinking

[tushar sehgal]

I am a outswing bowler and can't bowl an inswinger to save my life...I bowl decently with the old ball but its new ball that i can get to swing out a lot (obviously). I have figured out (not mastered) how to get the ball to move just a little bit or a bit more of a bananna curve type swing (this doesn't work all the time)..

So when I am bowling to top order batsman its all about moving the ball just a little bit as they are more likely to actually make contact with the ball, whereas tailenders will end up missing most of these and you will find your self getting frustrated as odd outside edge flies for four and then you keep beating the edge for other 5 balls..this is where if you can get the ball to move a lot and then bowl a straighter one comes in handy...

also work on your variations but not too many.. as that can lead to experimentation in a match which is not the smartest thing...

[no1northernbloke]

Dot balls.

With a well set field this will bring you more wickets than any amount of variations. Build pressure, strangle the batter and more often then not they will make a mistake. If the variation you decide to bowl doesn't come out quite right then the chances are it's going to go for runs.

I'm not saying never try anything different, just don't try them too often... I've lost count of the times something similar has happened over the years against medium pacers

Ball 1 - good length dot ball.
Ball 2 - attempted yorker turns into a half volley. Despatched
Ball 3 - dug in. Already waiting on back foot. Despatched.
Ball 4 - slower ball. will be full and probably around about a half volley again. Despatched.
Ball 5 - could be anything, but likely to be a good length ball. Damage done for the over. Dot ball
Ball 6 - could be anything, but likely to be a good length ball. Damage done for the over. Dot ball

You get my drift....

[tim2000s]

Ball 1 - good length dot ball.
Ball 2 - attempted yorker turns into a half volley. Despatched
Ball 3 - dug in. Already waiting on back foot. Despatched.
Ball 4 - slower ball. will be full and probably around about a half volley again. Despatched.
Ball 5 - could be anything, but likely to be a good length ball. Damage done for the over. Dot ball
Ball 6 - could be anything, but likely to be a good length ball. Damage done for the over. Dot ball

But that's not bowling with your brain...

Yorker followed by shorter one is pretty par for the course these days. If your first yorker fails, and you are using your brain, the short ball doesn't follow it.

[mr_wickets]

I think the key to bowling with your brain is to know your game and know that having a stock ball that you can produce 80% of the time will do. Tie the batsman down, try to bowl 3 maidens on the trott and you'll pick up wickets. Even with a bad ball the pressure has built up and pressure on the batting team causes wickets.

The magic ball that swings in a nips away or pitches on legg and flicks the top off off are great, but always searching for that ball means you're likely to chuck down a few half volleys.

[uknsaunders]

Dot balls.

With a well set field this will bring you more wickets than any amount of variations. Build pressure, strangle the batter and more often then not they will make a mistake. If the variation you decide to bowl doesn't come out quite right then the chances are it's going to go for runs.

I'm not saying never try anything different, just don't try them too often... I've lost count of the times something similar has happened over the years against medium pacers

Ball 1 - good length dot ball.
Ball 2 - attempted yorker turns into a half volley. Despatched
Ball 3 - dug in. Already waiting on back foot. Despatched.
Ball 4 - slower ball. will be full and probably around about a half volley again. Despatched.
Ball 5 - could be anything, but likely to be a good length ball. Damage done for the over. Dot ball
Ball 6 - could be anything, but likely to be a good length ball. Damage done for the over. Dot ball

You get my drift....

seen it so many times, start off bowling a good length and because they haven't got you out in 5 minutes they start resorting to crappy variations. Patience has gone from club cricket over the last 25 years. Everybody watches t20/IPL and think it's wonderful to bowl 4 types of slower ball, when the reality is that many bowlers don't even know how to hit the seam consistently.

[tim2000s]

On a grass wicket I like to bowl the same ball over and over and watch batsmen play and miss. 10 overs at just over 1 an over doesn't half get wickets at the other end...

[Howzat]

Im a rubbish bowler and for some reason always try to bang it in! Works about once in a blue moon, Johan can testify...

[ProCricketer1982]

seen it so many times, start off bowling a good length and because they haven't got you out in 5 minutes they start resorting to crappy variations. Patience has gone from club cricket over the last 25 years. Everybody watches t20/IPL and think it's wonderful to bowl 4 types of slower ball, when the reality is that many bowlers don't even know how to hit the seam consistently.

Yep.. This to be honest is all I tend to sit and wait for if I am in the top 3 bats. Just wait for you (the bowler) to start messing around and gifting runs (like UKS say's always always happens).

Just remember KISS
Keep
It
Simple
Stupid

[RossViper]

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.

I think you can tell most of the time how someone is going to play before they face their first ball - not all the time, but i'd guess between 60-80%

[ajm90]

I think you can tell most of the time how someone is going to play before they face their first ball - not all the time, but i'd guess between 60-80%

Definitely agree with this, if anyone walks in with short sleeves rolled up to show off their biceps, they will be a dirty slogger 9/10 

and probably a bit overconfident and arrogant as well 

[RossViper]

Definitely agree with this, if anyone walks in with short sleeves rolled up to show off their biceps, they will be a dirty slogger 9/10 

and probably a bit overconfident and arrogant as well 

I meant more the grip and set up, but yeah, i guess from the way they walk out as well, certainly helps tell what there intent might be.