3 Ways to play swing bowling
Good swing bowling can literally be unplayable. If a ball swings late enough nobody, not Sachin, not Lara, not Bradman, has ever had good enough reactions to counter the movement. It's a physical impossibility.
Yet somehow great players manage to build epic innings when the ball swings. How do they do it?
While science has no answers yet, there are some interesting theories to explore.
2 Reasons you are planting your front foot you may not have thought of
Take a look at the picture of Sachin above. It's another drive from the Little Master executed with precision, balance and timing.
Ask the Coaches: Getting out in the twenties
This week's Ask the Coaches is a question from Madhavan:
Of late I have been getting out in the twenties and thirties after playing fluently. I having been giving away my wicket and failing to convert those good starts in to big scores. What do I need to do to convert those good starts in to big scores and get that three figure mark?
Thanks for the question. If you have one of your own you can ask away.
Innovation or waste of money: How useful is special training equipment for cricket?
Attend any top level cricket match or coaching session these days and you will see all kinds of multi coloured training aids on show.
A brief search online provides even more options for the budding cricketer to improve their game. Some, fankly, are more believable than others. Marketers know we are desperate to get better and want something to help us. If they can convince us something works so we buy it their job is done.
Practice makes perfect – but what happens when things are less than perfect?
Most athletes arrive at a coaching session enthusiastic and ready to have a good, strong, focused and intense training session.
Sometimes it doesn't work out like that.
Nets are double booked, our training partners are running late or can't get there at all. Maybe the coach is sick. So many little things can and do go wrong all the time.
Ask the Coaches: Throwing
Send your questions on any cricket related topic to us using the question form here.
This week we discuss how to improve your throwing distance and how to make it as a professional cricketer. Both can be pretty tough, depending how talented you are.
How much skill coaching do you need to be a good cricketer?
Remember how shocked you were when you first saw Muttiah Muralitharan bowling?
It makes you wonder why we bother with coaching at all. Especially as most coaches are becoming increasingly terrified of producing the proverbial robotic, overcoached player. Murali is the antithesis of that player.
Batting Agility Drill #1
2. Keep your hands and thus the bat back as you move forward
3. Be as still and stable as you can when you hit the ball
4.Finish long and low through the ball - high elbow - hands extended in front of face
How indestructible team spirit can turn your bad form around
A big part of the reason the team I play for is near the top of the league is our team spirit.
Last Saturday was a grudge match against our local rivals, a good team just relegated from the division above. Several of our senior players were missing including the captain, vice captain and main bowler (who was next in line for the captaincy). Due to another player falling ill just before play we had to go in with 10 men.
Bowlers - Planning your Spell
Thought I might write down a few thoughts regarding some basic guidelines for bowlers who are starting to think about developing bowling plans.
Firstly, bowlers should always remember: YOU START THE PROCESS! this means, while a batsman may arrive at the crease with a plan, and he may even have some idea about what he is going to try to do to you as you are running in, he must ultimately RESPOND to the delivery you produce. This knowledge should encourage you to select each ball carefully but with confidence.
