Fast Bowling - What is rhythm

Rhythm in bowling is accomplished by a relaxed, accelerated approach to the crease and a gradual lengthen of stride whilst trying to bowl at pace (think of a plane taking-off).

Poor rhythm can result from a slow run-up without the necessary acceleration, too fast a run-up or a run-up where the strides stay the same (i.e. no gradual build-up).

The final few stages of the run-up and delivery through the crease should flow into one thus spreading the energy through the crease and thus minimising injury and assisting consistent length and line whilst still bowling at pace.

To help flow through the crease try to think about the last few strides before the delivery stride and where you finally finish after your extended follow-through. The delivery part of the action should look after itself.

General rules of thumb when coaching bowlers:

1. Try to establish whether a bowler has a 'front-on' action or a 'side-on' action. This can be recognised by looking at how the bowlers back foot lands during his delivery stride in relation to the position of his front arm.

• Generally, if back foot is pointing down the wicket but front arm is in a very sideways position - the bowler should adopt a more front on upper body position thus looking inside the line of the front arm.
• Generally front on bowlers should run in straight from start of run-up to delivery.
• Front on bowlers normally do not have a high jump to get into their delivery stride.
• Front on bowlers - if they keep their fingers behind the ball at the time of release have the ability to bowl out-swing or in-swing as stock ball.
• Generally if the back foot is in a sideways position during the delivery stride and the upper body is in a front on position - the bowler should adopt a side-on action with the upper body thus looking outside of the front arm, (never get your front arm too far across i.e. too sideways on).
• Generally side-on bowlers should run-in on a slight curve from run-up to delivery.
• Side-on bowlers need to try and get off the ground to get into the delivery position as they have to turn their bodies slightly.
• Side on bowlers generally swing the ball away as it is difficult to swing the ball in from a sideways position.
• Side-on bowlers should try to bowl from as close to the stumps as possible

When coaching bowling try to get the bowler side-on or front-on if he or she adopts a mid way action as a result of not being able to achieve one of the above and it is effective and feels good, then stick with mid way.
Always try to get bowlers Side-on or front–on, mid-way is a compromise and a result of not being able to do the above. To work on mid-way as an initial technique may well result in you failing to coach a bowler an effective front-on or side-on action.

Remember
When correcting or improving a bowling action;

If a bowler has a poor action and is very fast and consistent sometimes it is better to leave it alone or to fine tune it.

Coaching the Action
Don’t be afraid to tell a bowler to try both actions when assessing them
a) side on
b) front on
If a bowler thinks he is side on and never tries front on he will not know if he has the correct action. Always get the bowler to try both he may be better at the one he has never tried before and if he is worse at least you can be sure he has the initial correct action.

Initially assess what you feel is the best action having tried the above and bearing in mind the mid way alternative then double check by taking the following in to consideration

When the bowler has tried both actions assess the following.
· How each action felt when bowling (ask bowler for honest feedback on which action felt most comfortable )
· The coach then assesses the consistency and quality of deliver while using each action ;(i.e. length line and pace of delivery ). If there is a lack of pace for an action then something is still probable technically wrong. And further technical adjustments need to be made.
· The coach must then match the consistency of delivery with the efficiency and feel of action, which will in turn give him or her establishing which action to adopt.

Remember

You will not ruin a bowlers action while experimenting for a session to establish what action to use. The only time an action can be ruined is through going away after the session and continuously practicing the wrong techniques.
If thing are not working during a session where you are trying to change a bowlers action then tell them to go back to what they were originally doing.
It is important to make sure your assessment is correct.......
IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE SELECTED THE WRONG ACTION DON’T BE TO PROUD TO CHANGE YOUR MIND IT’S THE PLAYERS CAREER AT STAKE.
ONCE YOU HAVE MADE THE NEW CHANGES YOU CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO THAT PLAYERS TECHNIQUE AND POTENTIALLY CAREER.

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