Bowling action
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In the sport of cricket, the bowling action is the set of movements that result in the bowler releasing the ball in the general direction of the batsman.
The bowling action can be broken down into a number of parts:
- Grip
- Approach
- Bound (pre delivery stride)
- Back foot contact
- Front foot contact
- Point of release
- Follow through
There are certain principles that apply to all parts of the bowling action, such as balance, athleticism and keeping the movement flowing in a narrow corridor directed towards the batsman.
Coaching books describe idealised bowling actions. But good coaches are well aware that many successful bowlers employ their own unique styles and some give birth to new, improved technique. The above links all describe the most commonly taught techniques.
Bound
The bound is a jump that allows the bowler to transition from the run-up to the back foot contact position. For a chest on bowler not much transition is needed. So, many chest on bowlers have a low, short bound. In contrast, side on bowlers need to rotate their bodies through ninety degrees and so tend to have a longer, higher bound. A high bound can lead to the knee on the back foot collapsing and so lose momentum.
Front foot contact
Front foot contact is the position of the bowler at the moment when the front foot hits the ground just prior to delivering the ball. For a right-handed bowler the front foot is normally the left foot.
Point of release
The point of release is the position of the ball in relation to the body at the moment when the ball is released. It is crucial for the arm to be stiff, not bent,[1] and the wrist rather looser, to ensure smooth release of the ball, and sufficient bounce off the pitch. Otherwise, the action will resemble chucking. The left shoulder ought to be somewhat towards the stumps, the arm beside the bowler falling away, having just before this stage been pointing directly at the stumps.
For fast bowlers at the point of release the back of hand will be facing in the opposite direction of the batsmen facing the pending delivery. The front of the upright wrist and tips of the index and middle fingers all point to the target. For spin bowlers the wrist may well be at various angles at release point. This is because one is trying to create drag on a particular side of the ball, not propel it straight as per the section above.
Follow through
The follow through is the motion of the bowler after releasing the ball.
See also
References
- ^ "Cricket". The World Book Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. Chicago: World Book. 1995. p. 197. ISBN 0978-0716600954.
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