Topic: Playing spin (Read 5908 times)

NT50 · « **on:** December 11, 2017, 12:10:58 AM »

Hello everyone!

At training on Thursday i faced spin for the first time since the end of the season, and despite making a lot of progress against pace bowling, i'm seems i'm still struggling against spin.

I was struggling majorly against one of the guys who rags it square (then again so was everyone) and as a left-hander versus off-spin, i edged behind 3/4 times in a session.

When the balls turning more than an inch or so, i just seem absolutely helpless. Against the man who was ragging it square, i found that anything on a good length i just had to step onto my back foot to cover the spin, and was just struggling to not get out, let alone score.

I struggle against spinners who only turn it a small amount as well. When i'm trying to defend a ball on a good length, i find that i can't get out and smother the spin unless i leave my crease and obviously then i find myself getting stumped.

Just wondering if anyone had any tips for playing spin?

I will hopefully be able to get one more bowling machine session in this week before i go home for Christmas, so i'll be able to get a video to show my weaknesses against spin which i will upload on Wednesday.

roco · « **Reply #1 on:** December 11, 2017, 07:10:55 AM »

You need to find a method that feels comfortable for you

There are a few methods for spin using feet get using crease or sweeping

If you can do more than one great if not find what works for you

I personally use my feet but you need to get to the pitch to cover the spin or have a good eye and hands to get you out of trouble if you don�t, just remember if you come down track commit and don�t always look to slog as I use this method to manipulate the fields for 1�s and 2�s. with the off spinner come down with line of ball on pads if defending so you can cover spin

If ball really ragging and not bouncing stupid sweeping is a good option but again don�t try to hit too hard just practice coming down on the ball and hitting the ball with a paddle or soft sweep as power will come. It doesn�t matter how much the ball is spinning if you pick the length right with a sweep.

If all else fails use the crease, stand right on the edge of the crease and if you can smother the spin with a stride great if not go right back and play off length as you will be surprised how much shorter you can make a spinner by using your crease. This works great if they don�t have a good arm ball which is why it�s my last resort.

sanredrose · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2017, 08:20:55 AM »

Roco has explained it very well. I will just add my 2 cents from experience.

I have a problem judging a spinner's line and length. For the first few balls, I try to go down the wicket as soon as the ball dips below my eye line. It helps me judge the line, length and turn extracted by the bowler as well as give an aggressive intent. I find it easier to deal with off-spinners since the ball is turning in to me but leg spinners pitch outside the leg stump and keep beating my edges constantly. For an off-spinner, my preferred shots would be cover drives, backfoot punch, cut, late cut and a rare sweep. For a leg-spinner, my preferred shot is a sweep if the ball is pitched on the leg or outside the leg stump line and for balls pitched on middle or off-stump my preferred shot would be to advance down the wicket and drive or go over the top. It takes a while to get there, but for the most part, I can manage most of the spinners in my league. There are some extremely good ones, against whom I survive a bit on luck.

If you are at the non-striker's end then watch the spinner's action closely. It might give you a few tips on his variations.
If you plan on going down the wicket to hit, then do it after the ball has been released by the bowler.
Watch Sangakarra or Jayawardene batting masterclass on facing spinners. These legends have some very useful tips on playing spin.

TGB1997 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2017, 08:54:49 AM »

Playing spin is all about judgement (I am a spinner myself so this is coming from a bowling point of view. The key is having quick footwork and being able to judge the length early. If its full get right forward and smother the spin then has you grow in confidence you can develop the forward defence into a drive maintaining a big stride forward and keeping your head right over the top of the ball. As a spinner two things that makes me feel like I'm in the game is batsmen attacking/playing in the air early and playing with a cross bat shots mainly the sweep as that could be an indication that they aren't sure of how much spin there is and not wanting to get bowled. Using a positive attitude even in defensive shots is really important as it will change the plan of the spinner. Rotating the strike is vital as allowing a spinner to bowl at one batsmen every over allows them to set the batsmen up for a plan so rotating the strike disrupts the flow. This is going to sound really simple but just watch the ball really closely from the hand as often you can get an idea of the seam position and then track the line and length a lot easier. Some batsmen may chose to take their guard more towards the off side that is personal preference and a bit of trial and error to see if it works (I personally take my normal guard as I like to stick to my routine). The most important thing is to enjoy it as if you are enjoying your batting then you are much more likely to relax and enjoy it. Best of luck with the practice

Big Mac · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2017, 09:15:51 AM »

roco and sanred have given two well thought out posts so I'll try and keep it short.

I don't like using my feet to come down the track so it's really important that I am able to judge the length of the delivery. If you go forward, then you have to be really forward and get on top of the ball and smother it before it has a chance to spin.

If you don't go forward then you have to get all the way back and give yourself enough time to see just how much the ball has spun and bounced. As @roco said, you'd be surprised at how you can turn what seems like a good length into a short long-hop by utilising the depth of your crease effectively.

Spinners will get you out when you get stuck in between and that's when you nick one behind or get trapped LBW. The next time you're in the nets try and focus on picking the length as early as you can, it'll force you to watch the ball and will help you identify any variations out of the hand.

Don't ask me about shots though, mine are go back over the bowler's head if he gives it too much flight and reverse sweep everything else!

EDIT: Didn't realise someone had said the same thing while I was typing that up. This is what happens when I procrastinate and open up half a dozen other tabs in the middle of writing a reply.

Quote from: TGB1997 on December 11, 2017, 08:54:49 AM

Playing spin is all about judgement (I am a spinner myself so this is coming from a bowling point of view. The key is having quick footwork and being able to judge the length early. If its full get right forward and smother the spin then has you grow in confidence you can develop the forward defence into a drive maintaining a big stride forward and keeping your head right over the top of the ball.

Couldn't agree more.

Seniorplayer · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2017, 10:30:59 AM »

I am also lefthanded and find its a problem trying to learn how to play spin in the nets as nets doesn't allow you to play spin the same as you would in a match as the spinner is bowling in turn with the seamers plus you have limited time batting to build your innings.
Fortunatly I learnt to play spin when we played time matches with spinners bowling as many overs as they could in the last hour and nine fielders around the bat.
Your head is important more so against the spinners as where your head goes your body will follow so in your stance your head needs to be well foreward.
Also as the ball is turning away from the left hander make sure you have your off stump covered.
Judge what to play and what to leave you don't have to play every ball.
In defence play with soft hands and kill the spin.
In defence get a decent stride in bring your bat down straight brush the top hat of your front pad with your top hand glove this closes the gap between bat and pad.
In attack give yourself a free swing off the bat with the full face to the over pitched ball Turn your back foot outwards to allow you hips to turn this will allow you to bring your bat down straight and hit through the line of the ball.

six and out · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2017, 11:16:00 AM »

Lots of good posts so far... So i will just add my thoughts...

I always tell the guys at my club that playing spin is about 2 words UP and BACK.

That is you get UP the wicket to the pitch of the ball or get BACK in your crease to make the ball as short as possible.

From there you have a far more range of easier and safer shots to play and in turn will put the spinner off their preferred length to bowl.

Also a massive thing people get wrong is that they think coming up the pitch means 2/3 strides... It doesn't.... It means getting to the pitch of the ball... not enough batters take 1 pace out of their crease to make the ball a half volley.

As a left hander practice batting on off stump against the ragging off spinner. You then know you can leave anything on the off side of your pads... presuming theirs no arm ball you can't pick of course.

Buzz · « **Reply #7 on:** December 11, 2017, 12:06:10 PM »

I have a few thoughts on this.
But so does Rahul Dravid. And lets face it he is better than everyone on here.

So read what he wrote to KP...

https://twitter.com/fwildecricket/status/524895540191182848

I would add to this by saying if you play forward make sure you seek to smother the spin by getting right over the ball. When you play back make a really concerted movement back, dont just stand up. That will take some practice.

NT50 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 11, 2017, 11:12:01 PM »

Many thanks to everyone who has offered advice!

I will film myself trying some new things against the machine on Wednesday and report back!

Davehugh · « **Reply #9 on:** December 12, 2017, 07:47:41 PM »

Some sound advice here I'm much more comfortable playing pace than spin but it's something I'm getting better at. I'm trying to break it down further. My biggest problem is waiting for the ball I have a tendency to want to play with my hands.

Off spin- much more comfortable than the ball turning away. I stand on off stump knowing that if I get a decent stride I can't be out LBW. I get the paddle sweep out early to get in the bowlers mind.

Leg/left arm over- used to still stand on middle or off stump because that's what felt normal but made angles a lot harder to judge. I would quite often get out caught and bowled with a leading edge or caught at slip playing against the spin. So this season going to try bat on leg or 2 and stay leg side of the ball and either to come down and hit the ball through mid off to cover, cut anything short and wide anything on the line of pads sweep knowing it's unlikely to pitch on and get me LBw if I miss it.

FattusCattus · « **Reply #10 on:** December 12, 2017, 08:36:19 PM »

The key thing is to get to the pitch. You don�t have to whack it, once you get to the pitch, you can block it or push it back down the track.

Who am I kidding? Lurch down the track like Quasimodo, thrust one leg down a line at least 6� away from the ball and play an ugly cross-batted hoik at the ball which dribbles to backwards square for one.

It works for most people!

Big Mac · « **Reply #11 on:** December 13, 2017, 12:18:30 PM »

Also I would try and get people to bowl at you in the nets rather than using a machine if you have the chance. The machine will help you groove a shot but won't help you pick up the length quicker.

Woodyspin · « **Reply #12 on:** December 13, 2017, 01:01:14 PM »

Quote from: Big Mac on December 13, 2017, 12:18:30 PM

Also I would try and get people to bowl at you in the nets rather than using a machine if you have the chance. The machine will help you groove a shot but won't help you pick up the length quicker.

Unless you use the merlin, which can be set to adjust its speed and length ect...

Watch the ball. I tend to look to good forward. Press forward and you always have time to go back if its bouncing, its its not bouncing you're already pushing forward so you should get defeated by the grubber!

If its turning away from you and you're edging it, you're staying inside of the ball and bot inline with it.

WalkingWicket37 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 13, 2017, 02:59:09 PM »

@Seniorplayer how do you play when there's 9 men around the bat?
If they're all close in I'd forget that blocking nonsense, boom time* - go fetch!

*In reality this may result in a dismissal playing a dick shot

Cow_corner · « **Reply #14 on:** December 13, 2017, 03:37:43 PM »

Quote from: FattusCattus on December 12, 2017, 08:36:19 PM

The key thing is to get to the pitch. You don�t have to whack it, once you get to the pitch, you can block it or push it back down the track.

Who am I kidding? Lurch down the track like Quasimodo, thrust one leg down a line at least 6� away from the ball and play an ugly cross-batted hoik at the ball which dribbles to backwards square for one.

It works for most people!

Stalking in Shanghai? You want to witness the reverse sweep into a packed off side!

Author Topic: Playing spin (Read 5908 times)

NT50

Playing spin

roco

Re: Playing spin

sanredrose

Re: Playing spin

TGB1997

Re: Playing spin

Big Mac

Re: Playing spin

Seniorplayer

Re: Playing spin

six and out

Re: Playing spin

Buzz

Re: Playing spin

NT50

Re: Playing spin

Davehugh

Re: Playing spin

FattusCattus

Re: Playing spin

Big Mac

Re: Playing spin

Woodyspin

Re: Playing spin

WalkingWicket37

Re: Playing spin

Cow_corner

Re: Playing spin