Too slow
I have always been a slow legspinner.
Not trundler in the park slow, but slower than the average leg spinner in organised cricket.
It has never really bothered me. I have had coaches who have tried to make me bowl quicker, and sometimes I have, but in general i have bowled at the slower pace because it suits me better.
But one thing I have noticed is that in the UK the pitches are slower and softer (obviously) and if you fuck up your length, even slightly, the ball just sits up and gets whacked.
In 09 I bowled slower than I ever have before, because of my knee, and I also dropped shorter more than usual, so maybe the problem was magnified. But even in 08, that one game i bowled well, my one problem was dropping a tad short and getting cut away with ease.
So I have a question that I need to answer:
Should I bowl quicker on slow English pitches?
This could all be an overreaction. Last year was a shocking year for my bowling, and it could be that I am just thinking that I need to do something different, when really all I need is a functioning knee.
My knee is now pretty good. I can get up stairs ok, haven’t had any pain in it for a while, and am thinking about doing some jogging on it in the near future.
The thing is that even with a good knee, with my current run up I wont be able to pick up the pace any further. The chest on action is good for me, but even bowling quicker balls with it can be tricky.
So not only would I have to change my run up, to give more momentum, i would have to (probably) change to a side on action.
Luckily i have a run up and bowling action to model myself on.
Last week I went to the BFI cricket archive enevening, and I saw a bit of Chuck Fleetwood-Smith bowling.
It was a hypnotic action.
Coming in off about ten steps side on, smooth as silk, and then a side on action with maximum spin.
This isn’t just because Chuck was a drunkard from Melbourne, although that helps too.
So in the pre-season, brief as it is, I shall try this quicker style of side on legspin and see what I can make of it.
I can always go back if it is shit.
Plus I think it will help my flipper and carrom balls, both of which i was getting pretty good at by the end of the year.
I’ll say one thing, you’re a spin bowler not a slow bowler.
Apparently Warne’s arm speed was similar to McGrath’s. The difference in pace is the momentum and the wrist action.
Try to think about accelerating the arm all the way to the apex. That will also help to get you over that front knee and should give you a bit more spin and a bit more of a sharp drop on the delivery.
There, that should be enough to totally fuck up your action!
I agree with every third word.
OK, I’ll try it in ‘Cricket Australia’ speak…
Put the ball into areas according to the agreed plans. Ensure you execute the plans and endeavor to win the key moments of the contest and then subsequently adjust those plans to encompass the areas that they now present. If you fail to execute, then readjust the plans to encoporate the dynamic changes to the contest and subsequent win those key moments. Rinse. Repeat.
Now I’ve got it.