On bowlers and techniques

There is a phrase in the game that, “no two bowlers actions are exactly the same.” It is very true, although as youngsters many tend to copy a favorites approach, there will be some part that will become different as the action becomes established. For a few that established natural action is good enough to last through a career. For most, adjustments have to be made and the earlier the better, before bad habits creep in. There is also a small percentage of players with unorthodox bowling actions. They cannot be changed or corrected. Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga are the best examples of a spinner and paceman who defy bowling techniques. It’s difficult, almost impossible to copy their actions and bowl successfully.

Lasith Malinga

The schools under 15 and 17 seasons are coming to an end, with the under 17 quarter finals to be played early next week. Having watched a number of young bowlers in action, it is evident that bowlers have to be coached more at these levels. The main learning years on all aspects of the game are between ten and seventeen. It is therefore essential that a sound technical foundation is instilled and obtained during these years.

Bowlers must be first educated to employ either a front on or side on action. Before the emergence of bowlers like Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall and Colin Croft of the West Indies, the coaching manual only preached of bowling with a side on action. This trio and many others coming into the game in the 1970’s bowled in a way that came naturally to them.

It also brought about another issue where bowlers got themselves into mixed action positions. A situation where the one half of the body did the opposite to the other. This led to the two types of actions, where should the feet land parallel to the crease, the non bowling arm should be pushed across for the head to be in position to look at the batsman from over the shoulder. The open chested or front on action is the opposite.

Pace bowlers, medium pacers and wrist spinners must adhere to bowling with one or the other type of action. It is then that best bowling results could be obtained. This will also minimize injury. A mixed action results in a lot of strain on the back and the knees and ankles too. So, finger spinners will get away with a somewhat mixed action, particularly if that is what comes naturally to them.

Two bowlers currently in international cricket who could be sighted as examples in the two types of actions are Makhaya Ntini, the South African paceman and Shane Warne the Aussie leg spinner. Ntini, is a front on bowler. He bares his chest to the batsman at the point of delivery. His feet also land, with feet, toes pointing in the same direction. With practice he has mastered the art and delivers all the variations of pace bowling, pretty briskly. Mind you, he is not a very big man, when compared with many of the quick bowlers of today.

Shane Warne delivers absolutely side on. It is this classic action, combined with a massive competitive spirit and heaps of stamina to bowl long spells that has made him the bowler that he is. His record tells the story.

The game’s governing body must do more to educate school coaches on the subject of coaching bowlers. Much more must be done to pick-up young talented bowlers and work on their actions. After all, it is the bowlers who win matches for their team.