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[Nothing2SeeHere]

The team I played at the weekend have an interesting bowler who picked up another 5 wicket haul at the weekend. He bowls slow (like 30-35mph you have time to play two shots slow) loopy balls on a very good length and line.

Playing as I do in a low skilled team, this seems to be a very effective delivery. I wasn't out to him but he restricted my scoring rate as I couldn't find an effective low risk option. The length and line is good so charging the bowler feels risky at the time due to stumpings/LBW if you miss. He also set a good field for his bowling so its either hit long or risk hitting out.
Bowling loopy deliveries was working well with the inconsistent bounce so stepping back from the ball didn't offer anything that would consistently sit up (the guy in with me tried this and top edged off an unexpected bounce to be caught behind).

What tactics might you suggest to keep the scoring up from what looks like buffet bowling from the sidelines?

Ta

[play-yourself-in]

I've been out to this type of bowler more times than I care to remember.  In fact if I see one come on I get a cold sweat!  One of the hardest things is that you never get to practice against this type of bowling.  I've seen better players than me take this bowling apart though, the two things I've seen these players do is,

1- move down the pitch and take the ball on the full.  They don't try and over hit it though!
2- play the ball very, very late.  Not plant your front foot and wait, which I normally do, but really wait until you commit yourself.

I still get out to these bowlers, so let me know if you have anymore ideas!!!!

Good luck.

[roco]

for me its use the crease

get out to meet the ball (you haven't got to smash it when you come down track)

If your not worried about missing the ball playing from the crease i.e. he is not moving it a mile walk down track as more stable than charging ala matt hayden. I do it all the time to accurate medium pace bowlers even with keeper up as you have to do something otherwise they will camp out on a length all day.

If not confident coming down bat right on edge of crease then use full length of crease and go back as will turn most length balls into short of a length so more variety of shots.

[amritpremi]

We had a similar bowler in our team, on most days he would pick wickets when the batsman are not batting too well & are confused how to play him, they would play shots & get out. On other days when batsman are doing well & would smash him long & deep. In nets I would play him easily by stepping out & hitting him in line, in practice matches I would take easy singles by nudging here & there till I feel it's time to take risk.

[Nothing2SeeHere]

We had a similar bowler in our team, on most days he would pick wickets when the batsman are not batting too well & are confused how to play him, they would play shots & get out. On other days when batsman are doing well & would smash him long & deep. In nets I would play him easily by stepping out & hitting him in line, in practice matches I would take easy singles by nudging here & there till I feel it's time to take risk.

Stepping out to hit targeted singles sounds a good plan. Hitting over the top is not really one of my strengths. Best case scenario the field is moved in to cut off the singles and hitting over the top becomes a safer option. But scoring at 4-5 an over is still a decent rate at my level. I may have a few high toss throw downs to practice.

His line and length are good. Very few 'safe' balls to have a swing at that wouldn't hit the wickets. He turns his fingers in the bowling action but any movement is bounce variation off the seam/pitch. Not enough revs to get any real turn.

Good ideas. Any more?

[Umi]

Best thing is to get out of the crease and making it half volley shots, as someone suggested they're either having a great day or a very bad one

[Yorkershire]

One of bowlers I really dislike. 

I tend to start off by getting forward to the ball and stopping it/nudging it, until I start to get comfortable. I then adjust my stance and positioning  to start smacking it and try and put pressure the bowler so he gets taken off.

Doesn't always work like that if I take too much time getting used to the bowling. I see it as not letting the fielding side know you hate this type of bowling or are under pressure.

[Gingerbusiness]

You could always start off outside your crease and move back, messing his length up, making him drop it short which should be easier to take it off the back foot.

If you are a front foot player, get after him. Quick feet, solid base and hit through the line.

[meats]

As others have said, meet it on the full and just nudge him around and find the gaps in the field. We have one of these guys in our Sunday side and the amount of wickets he picks up is unbelievable.

[edge]

Mess with his length - go forward, back, doesn't matter. Bowler like that's only real asset is their consistency, so take that away from them by stepping out or going back and rotating the strike as much as possible, then take the big shots on as/when you feel comfortable.

[brokenbat]

stepping out is fine - BUT, you have to wait till the ball is at least halfway towards you before you even begin to move (head must stay still while you wait)..otherwise you'll almost certainly mistime it or miss it altogether.

[Lumsden]

LOL... I recently spent a couple of bowling machine sessions at Stumps playing just this type of delivery after getting out to such a bowler a few Sundays back (took a fair bit of adjustment to set-up machine to emulate this style of bowling). I don't come across this type bowling every week but definitely a few times per season and if he doesn't give at least one loose ball per over, I find scoring incredibly difficult.  Problem is I have always been someone who plays from the crease (only been stumped once in 30+ years and that was very dubious as I found out later the square leg umpire was the bowler's grandad) so I am just not used to dancing down the wicket and giving this type of bowling the whacking it truly warrants.

Anyhow the first bag of balls I was all over the place but eventually worked out a method which involved taking an initial large step in an attempt to meet the ball on the half-volley. If I feel I have arrived perfectly then I send it anywhere between midwicket and extra cover but if I am not too confident on where my feet are positioned, I simply ensure that I get something on the ball to avoid it going through to the imaginary keeper.

I suspect the biggest problem I'll need to overcome in an actual match situation is my lack of confidence to step out of the crease knowing that if I miss it, I will then be stumped.

[InternalTraining]

Use forward-press to attack or defend. You have to move about to score off a bowler like that. These bowlers are annoying There are plenty of good tactics from forumites here.

[GeorgeB93]

I find sitting slightly deeper in the crease to those kind of bowlers is easier to mess with their line and length. If you can turn their good length balls in to short balls, they'll potentially try to push their length up, which at the point you can sit further up in the crease and turn them into half volleys.

[WalkingWicket37]

You lot are over complicating things here...
Easiest way to play them is get to the non-striker's end and make sure you stay there!