This article is part of the "Streetwise Bowling" series from PitchVision Academy. To view the full list of tactics click here.

As a seamer, you lack the subtle variety of seam and swing. You are probably not that quick. You are McGrath, relentlessly hitting your length and relying on the seam for variety.

But even the metronome needs something else.

Batsmen get well set on a flat pitch. You come up against a player who you know is a little sluggish to get forward early in his innings. The ball gets old and worn at the end of an innings.

It's time to take a wicket through subtlety.

• Name: The Seamer's Subtlety
• Bowling Type: Any seam up bowler
• Difficulty Level: 6/10
• Success Level: Moderate

The Over

Your over is spilt into two distinct parts: the setup and the pay off. First, in the setup you bowl an orthodox line, ideally back of a length to make the batsman play back rather than forward.

The subtle part of this is to slow your pace slightly and vary it within a range of about 5-8kph. You are not bowling slower balls, but you are not bending your back. Bowl within yourself but still get through your action.

After 3-5 balls it's time for the pay off.

When you feel the batsman is used to you bowling at slightly below normal pace, and has assumed that's what you are doing today, you apply the coup de grâce: a top pace yorker at the toes.

The increase in pace combined with one of the hardest balls to play should be enough to get you your man bowled or LBW.

It's a simple, yet well disguised variation for all seamers from military medium to searing paceman.

The tactic also has the advantage of being a way to get out of an expensive over for you. If you have gone for a few runs in the over, the well executed yorker is a way to get a dot, wicket or single only.

You can download a printable pdf version to take to nets from here.

Give it a try and let me know how you go! And by the way, if you have a suggested field for this tactic has worked for you  in real life, leave it in the comments.

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