Masterclass: Spin Bowling In Limited Over Cricket – Xavier Doherty
Elite Cricket is very pleased to present this exclusive Masterclass article by Australia A and Tasmanian spin bowler Xavier Doherty. Enjoy.
Cheers
Mark
In the shorter forms of the game, the first thing the goes through a batsman’s head when a spinner hands his cap to the umpire is – cheap, easy runs!!!!
This provides a huge opportunity for spin bowlers to have a positive impact for his team. To do this you must have clear ideas in your head about bowling plans, field settings and weaknesses you might know about your opposition.
Spinning in one day cricket is about building up pressure and forcing the batter to play a shot that he is not comfortable about. Even if you aren’t a big spinner of the ball there are still ways to be a successful one day bowler. Mixing up speeds and flights are very important, as well as mixing up the amount of spin you put on each delivery can help with deceiving the opposition.
It is very important that you start well; there is nothing harder than conceding 10 or 12 runs in your first over then having to fight your way back into the game. Make sure that the batsman is playing a great shot if he wants to hit a boundary, this may mean you need to start with a couple of extra fielders on the fence, especially for a set batter. Conceding a single will allow you to target the other batter and crowd him in the field, this will put pressure on both players to score faster.
Taking a wicket is the best way to slow the scoring rate down. Like I mentioned earlier, there are a few ways to go about doing this. Drawing a false stroke is not all about bowling huge turning leg-breaks pitching outside leg and taking the top of off stump (but if you can do this, go for it!!).
If, like me, you don’t turn it anywhere near as much as Warney used to, mixing up your speed and flights will make it hard for the opposition to get into a rhythm and score at the rate they want to. Not many players out there are happy just knocking the singles around against spin bowlers.
See if you can stay one step ahead and read what a batter is doing. If he looks like he wants to come at you, keep him trapped on the crease, or on the other hand, drag him down the wicket when he wants to stay at home. Try and beat him in flight and get them spooning catches to mid on/off or to your short catchers.
Some spinners change their game for the shorter versions and become dart bowlers, constantly bowling flatter and faster. The most important advice I can give about 50 over cricket is that you still spin the ball hard and give the ball air. The great weapon for spinners is that a batter has to make all the pace if they want to hit the ball hard and long, so don’t make it easier for them by constantly giving them that pace. Giving the ball revs will also allow the ball to drift, drop and obviously spin, all helping your chances for a wicket. Putting plenty of revs on the ball and flighting the ball will sometimes take some courage, but in the long run with enough practice, you will get the results.
Xavier Doherty
Elite Cricket is very pleased to present this exclusive Masterclass article by Australia A and Tasmanian spin bowler Xavier Doherty. Enjoy.
Cheers
Mark
In the shorter forms of the game, the first thing the goes through a batsman’s head when a spinner hands his cap to the umpire is – cheap, easy runs!!!!
This provides a huge opportunity for spin bowlers to have a positive impact for his team. To do this you must have clear ideas in your head about bowling plans, field settings and weaknesses you might know about your opposition.
Spinning in one day cricket is about building up pressure and forcing the batter to play a shot that he is not comfortable about. Even if you aren’t a big spinner of the ball there are still ways to be a successful one day bowler. Mixing up speeds and flights are very important, as well as mixing up the amount of spin you put on each delivery can help with deceiving the opposition.
It is very important that you start well; there is nothing harder than conceding 10 or 12 runs in your first over then having to fight your way back into the game. Make sure that the batsman is playing a great shot if he wants to hit a boundary, this may mean you need to start with a couple of extra fielders on the fence, especially for a set batter. Conceding a single will allow you to target the other batter and crowd him in the field, this will put pressure on both players to score faster.
Taking a wicket is the best way to slow the scoring rate down. Like I mentioned earlier, there are a few ways to go about doing this. Drawing a false stroke is not all about bowling huge turning leg-breaks pitching outside leg and taking the top of off stump (but if you can do this, go for it!!).
If, like me, you don’t turn it anywhere near as much as Warney used to, mixing up your speed and flights will make it hard for the opposition to get into a rhythm and score at the rate they want to. Not many players out there are happy just knocking the singles around against spin bowlers.
See if you can stay one step ahead and read what a batter is doing. If he looks like he wants to come at you, keep him trapped on the crease, or on the other hand, drag him down the wicket when he wants to stay at home. Try and beat him in flight and get them spooning catches to mid on/off or to your short catchers.
Some spinners change their game for the shorter versions and become dart bowlers, constantly bowling flatter and faster. The most important advice I can give about 50 over cricket is that you still spin the ball hard and give the ball air. The great weapon for spinners is that a batter has to make all the pace if they want to hit the ball hard and long, so don’t make it easier for them by constantly giving them that pace. Giving the ball revs will also allow the ball to drift, drop and obviously spin, all helping your chances for a wicket. Putting plenty of revs on the ball and flighting the ball will sometimes take some courage, but in the long run with enough practice, you will get the results.
Xavier Doherty
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