Outswinger
Advanced Bowling Drill 2 – Outswingers
Remember: always make sure the rough side of the ball is facing in the direction you want it to swing.
Note the differences from the inswinger grip (inset)
- Look carefully at the grip position in the diagram and compare this with the grip for the inswinger from Advanced Bowling Drill 1 (inset – bottom right).
- This time the ball is tilted with the seam at a slight angle towards the off side (for a right handed batsman).
- The two fingers at the top grip the ball just on and outside the seam rather than either side of it.
- Top bowlers like Matthew Hoggard have the ability to make batsmen ‘fish’ outside off stump, especially when the ball swings late.
- This gives the bowler a greater chance of getting the batsman out caught behind the wicket forcing a poor stroke and nicking a catch to the keeper.
- Just like the inswinger, the condition of ball is important and you should work on shining one side of the ball only.
- Angle the seam towards the off side but keep it vertical.
The shiny side of the ball should be on the right hand side of the seam.
Your bowling action is also important if you want the ball to swing. If you have a side-on action when you reach the crease, you’ll have a greater chance of moving the ball in the air.
Reverse Swing
Reverse swing is a specialised type of swing bowling where the ball tends to swing late and to the shiny rather than the rough side. Bowlers from Pakistan first popularised this form of bowling (Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were two later exponents).
Andrew Flintoff and Simon Jones are also recognised as bowlers who can produce reverse swing. You will usually only produce reverse swing from an older ball and by bowling at high speed. Not something for most junior cricketers will be likely to achieve until they get to u15s.
The next skill drill will look at off and leg cutters.
