When asked about his amazing success as a fast bowler at the highest level Glenn McGrath recently said that the complicated thing (in producing a successful performance) is to keep things simple! Although this sounds a bit funny there is a lot of merit to what he is saying.

Glenn McGrath’s greatest strength as a fast bowler is his relentless accuracy (simple), which enables him to maximise his chances of taking wickets by directing an extremely high percentage of his deliveries at a ‘top of off stump’ line and length, a fact which he makes no secret of.

Bowling to this plan gives him the maximum chances of taking wickets, as this strategy allows him to capture wickets bowled, lbw and caught behind the wicket which are the most frequent ways batsmen are dismissed. In other words by executing this plan he gives the batsman lots of chances to make mistakes (which is how we are most often out!).

McGrath plays the percentages because he knows if he can be persistent in this plan he will have a very good chance of success, additionally bowling this line and length makes him very difficult for the batsman to score from as he does not give the batsman much room to work with in terms of line and length.

Glenn McGrath is managing his risk! By sticking to this very simple plan he knows he is a good chance of getting a wicket if the batsman makes a mistake while at the same time he won’t go for too many runs, which allows him to keep bowling. It’s pretty hard to take wickets if you are going for five or more runs an over! It’s impossible to take wickets if you are not bowling and going at five runs an over is a great way to get taken off!

Glenn McGrath does not bowl with amazing pace like Brett Lee, he does not bowl with amazing variety like Andrew Symonds, he’s 35! but he is the arguably the greatest (and simplest) fast bowler in the history of the test cricket. He has a simple and highly effective plan that he executes with precision on a highly consistent basis (simple). He has the technique to execute his plan which is important, as the quality of your plan will only be as good as your ability to execute it and as a developing player you must devote time to acquiring the skills to carry out your plan.

When McGrath says the complicated thing is keeping it simple, I think he means that by determinedly sticking to his simple plan instead of trying to do too much this will give him his best chance of success, as he deals with the pressures of performance such as the quality of his opponents, his age, the game situation, fatigue, the media, his emotions, holding his place in the team, desire for wickets and other things that can distract him from this plan.

Food for thought: 

• Do you have a plan?
• Do you know it in detail?
• Does your technique allow you to execute your plan?
• What skills do you need to master to better execute or enhance your plan?

Good luck

Mark