Variation

Advanced Bowling Drill 4 – Adding Variation

If a batsman can read your bowling – you will concede a lot of runs. Mix things up for the best results.
There are a number of things you can vary in your bowling:

  • Spin
  • Pace
  • Seam position/ swing
  • Line
  • Length
  • Flight or trajectory
  • Bowling position

That’s quite a lot to choose from so we’ll take a quick look at each one in turn.

Spin

If you are a spin bowler you can spin the ball more or less or even not at all, we call this last variation an arm ball as it continues to travel in the direction of the arm after it pitches with little or no spin.  If you have been turning the ball a lot this is a great way to surprise a batsman.  A seam or quicker bowler can try a leg or off cutter as spin variation on their usual delivery – these also work well as a slower ball.

Pace

To bowl a quicker or slower bowl you don’t lengthen or shorten your run up.  If you do this – your intention is obvious to the batsman.  Use either a cutter to slow the delivery of the ball as you spin it out of your hand or take some whip out of your arm as you bowl.  Another technique is to spread your top fingers wide either side of the seam. The element of surprise is important as the batsman will expect a ball of normal pace and be through the stroke before the ball has pitched, if you are accurate you have a good chance of clean bowling him.  Don’t over use a slower ball – save it for when you really need it – always be ready for a possible caught and bowled as batsmen will be through the shot early and may spoon the ball in the air for a catch.  For a quicker delivery, whip your arm through that little bit quicker as you bowl.

Seam and Swing

Vary the shiny side of the ball and the angle of the seam to change between in and outswingers (remember the ball will swing in the direction of the rough side and point the seam in the direction you want it to swing).

Line

Try to vary between a middle and off stump line, try not to stray down legside or bowl wide on off stump as batsmen can score heavily in both these areas.

Length

All the lengths can be used but don’t bowl too short unless you can generate enough bounce and try to avoid a full toss where the ball reaches the batsman without bouncing.  Yorkers are deliveries that are aimed at the popping crease near the batsman’s feet, inswinging yorkers are particularly difficult to play.  Be careful though as it is easy to over pitch them – a good length is important in order to restrict scoring.

Flight

This refers to how high you throw the ball into the air after bowling and is often referred to as ‘giving the ball some air’.  Quicker bowlers tend to push the ball through quite flat so flight variation is more likely to be used by spinners.  Be wary of tossing the ball up too high however so that it makes it easy for the batsman to hit, but a disguised flighted ball ona  good length can often decieve a batsman and result in a stumping or nicked catch to a close fielder.

Bowling position

This refers to bowling either over or around the wicket which we covered in the basic bowling section.  Make sure you tell the umpire before you bowl if you want to change mid over otherwise the umpire will call a no-ball.

Our final advanced bowling skill drill focuses on bowling to left-handed batsmen.