Print

[NT50]

Hi all!

Bit premature seeing as it'll be a good few weeks before i'm able to bowl again, but i'm after a few tips with my bowling.

When i make my comeback, i will be playing a higher standard than i'm used to. I've only started playing this year, and in the lower leagues i was taking the odd wicket and going at ~2 an over purely on pace, I didn't have any clue where to bowl, just ran up and did it. But then i was asked to come and play for my local club as their Sunday sides are short, and the quality of batsmen is a bit better in this league. I haven't played yet due to my injury, but when i do play i'll have to do more than just bowl pure pace as I'm sure to be hit to all places if not.

But having never had any coaching, I have absolutely no understanding of what to bowl and when. I can remember a special on Glenn McGrath talking about bowling just outside the top of off-stump, but have no idea if this is relevant to 50 over cricket or not. No one at my first club ever really taught me how to bowl to certain batsmen or what to do when one starts to get on top of me. I would just try to bowl full and at the stumps, and i was sort of just left to get on with it as it was reasonably successful, but obviously wouldn't work when i step up 3/4 leagues.

I would appreciate any help or pointers on improving my bowling, thank you!

[potzy248]

Fuller is always better in my opinion. Its "easier" to set a field to full bowling. There are lots of things you need to take into account when having a plan. Pitch (Green top or low dust pit), opposition (muppets or they have some skill), Top order, middle or lower order, atmospheric conditions (If its gonna swing then pitch it up). I always tell my bowlers that if all else fails then try and hit the top of off stump. This brings all dismissals into play.

Pretty short and sharp but works for me.

[edge]

Top of off is always a good stock plan, then vary from that. Always decide what you want to bowl before you start your runup!

Pay a lot of attention to the batsmen when you're not bowling - what are their good shots, what types of delivery are they weak against, where are they not scoring runs etc. I always try to figure out where a batsman doesn't want me to bowl.

Surprise is often key to dismissals - e.g. a well-directed yorker can be devastating, but not if you bowl it every ball. A batsman who knows what you're planning will be in much better shape to defend than one who isn't expecting it. Don't be afraid to spend a few balls or a couple of overs setting a player up if you think you can get him out.

Have a few go-to options that you know you can reliably bowl when trying to defend against an aggressive player or when you want to beat the bat - slower balls, wide yorkers etc. Figure out what your best deliveries are and make sure you can bowl them on command when you need to.

Lastly, fake it till you make it! Tell yourself at the top of your run that you're a gun fast bowler and you're better than this bloke, you'll get him out if you bowl what you want to. Works wonders, see Chris Jordan - England leadership told him he was a death bowling hero and that they were backing him to do it so many times that eventually he became a death bowling hero.

[KIPPERS]

Against decent batsmen bowl to just miss the top of off stump. Pretty much applies at any level of cricket. Dont get suckered into bowling to strait at decent bats as they will then be able to work you both sides of the wicket and the skipper cant set a field for that. Of course once the real muppets get in you can go hard at the stumps but beware. At decent level even 9,10,11 can play a forward defense. Its often better to bounce them a couple of times as they are usually poor against the short ball. But make sure you have the field (and the pace) to do it.

[NT50]

Cheers for the advice so far guys!

When you say 'set them up' what do you mean by that?

And is practising bowling just outside off as simple as just practising hitting a certain length in the nets or is there anything else i should be doing?

Thanks!

[KIPPERS]

set them up....Well I'm an out-swing bowler and the first two balls of an innings I will deliberately not swing it. then swing the third. Or short ball short ball get them on the back foot then bowl a yorker. But if they know you are any good they will be looking for that, You need to keep a batsman at one end so you can work on him.

[Gardiner1886]

Top of off is a good stock ball but try varying it up.  Get in the nets play around with length and pace. If you can pull off the back off the hand slower ball you're going welll. I personally bowl just back of a length making sure not to bowl to wide so I don't get cut! Off cutters are handy thing to know and pretty easy to get the hang off in my opinion