Bowling Variations: A Lost Cause
Bowlers are treated like Aliens as far as rules and regulations in cricket are concerned. The playing field has been molded in favor of the batters in such a way that bowlers are being taken for plenty. Apart from this, the common notion with the bowlers is try to use as many variations as they can to limit the flow of runs. However, this is wrong. I still remembered one of the matches in the last edition of the T20 World Cup, which was held in Bangladesh. Australia was up against the formidable West Indies side with latter needing 12 runs of the last over. The Caribbean captain Darren Sammy had the task of seeing his side through against James Faulkner. The Aussie bowler was exceptional in his previous three overs and a lot was expected out of him. He bowled the first ball full on leg stump and Sammy was surprised by it. The second one was a Yorker, which again resulted in a dot ball. However, the idea of trying too many variations proved fatal for the bowler.
Sammy was able to launch the next ball, which was a full toss, into the stands. Faulkner once again went for something different and bowled too full which was once again carved for a six. He conceded no runs on the first two balls but things turned bad when Faulkner tried to vary things. This is just one of the examples where an idea of variations backfired in a big way. With the evolution in the game, variations have become a fashion for the bowlers. It has become mandatory for a bowler to atleast try four different deliveries every over. The slower ones, leg cutters, slow Yorkers and few more have become the need of the hour for the bowlers. However, the example which I quoted above is enough to show that using numerous variations in bowling is not a great idea these days. The modern day batsmen have mastered the art of handling variations and they know what would be bowled to them on the next one. It’s time for the bowlers especially pacers to rethink on their strategy when it comes to variations.
The different type of deliveries came into existence to surprise the batsman in the shorter formats of the game but extensive use has defused their effectiveness. The surprise element that came from variations is now non-existence for the batters. Dale Steyn was hammered by AB de Villiers, MS Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan in the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League and it had all to do with his habit of bowling different deliveries to the rivals. It was a shock for his fans who have seen him rattling batsman confidence with his good line and length. I am pretty sure that he would have kept them quite if he had stuck to his strengths rather than going for something which has become predictable these days. Spinners have the tendency to bowl the same ball even if they have been hit for a four or a six on the previous one. This surprises the batsman who is expecting some kind of a different treatment from a bowler. Karan Sharma, Akshar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal are young and new to the game but bowled well in the last season of the cash rich league.
They were among the wicket takers on consistent basis and foxed the batsman with their smart bowling. The above mentioned budding bowlers kept challenging the batsmen with the flighted deliveries, which could have been easily hit for sixes. Let me make one thing very clear over here that I am not against variations in the shorter formats of the game but as a bowler one should have the knowledge of using them at a proper or required time. Moreover, a bowler should develop supreme control over one or two variations first before unleashing them at the batsman. It is next to impossible to bowl different balls one after the other with perfection. Are most of the bowlers capable of landing deliveries at the right place? Can bowlers maintain the effectiveness of the variations in pressure situation? The answer is big no as a judgment in error could cause the game for the side. We have seen this happening on many occasions in the recent times and the bowlers should be held accountable for this. The best thing is to focus on one or two balls and getting them right in the course of a game. The role of a bowling coach has become preciously important for the bowlers in modern times. A fast bowler like Wasim Akram has enough experience under his belt to teach his disciples about do’s and don’ts of the bowling. It was his magic which guided Kolkata Knight Riders to their second IPL trophy. Umesh Yadav and Vinay Kumar, the Indian pacers had a good tournament as they sticked to Yorker or full length in their bowling. They didn’t try too many things, which not only fetched them wickets but were able to contain the batsman from going for big shots. It was Akram’s magic all the way. Life has become hard for the seam bowlers in international cricket so bowling according to a planned way is the mantra of success.
Sammy was able to launch the next ball, which was a full toss, into the stands. Faulkner once again went for something different and bowled too full which was once again carved for a six. He conceded no runs on the first two balls but things turned bad when Faulkner tried to vary things. This is just one of the examples where an idea of variations backfired in a big way. With the evolution in the game, variations have become a fashion for the bowlers. It has become mandatory for a bowler to atleast try four different deliveries every over. The slower ones, leg cutters, slow Yorkers and few more have become the need of the hour for the bowlers. However, the example which I quoted above is enough to show that using numerous variations in bowling is not a great idea these days. The modern day batsmen have mastered the art of handling variations and they know what would be bowled to them on the next one. It’s time for the bowlers especially pacers to rethink on their strategy when it comes to variations.
The different type of deliveries came into existence to surprise the batsman in the shorter formats of the game but extensive use has defused their effectiveness. The surprise element that came from variations is now non-existence for the batters. Dale Steyn was hammered by AB de Villiers, MS Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan in the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League and it had all to do with his habit of bowling different deliveries to the rivals. It was a shock for his fans who have seen him rattling batsman confidence with his good line and length. I am pretty sure that he would have kept them quite if he had stuck to his strengths rather than going for something which has become predictable these days. Spinners have the tendency to bowl the same ball even if they have been hit for a four or a six on the previous one. This surprises the batsman who is expecting some kind of a different treatment from a bowler. Karan Sharma, Akshar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal are young and new to the game but bowled well in the last season of the cash rich league.
They were among the wicket takers on consistent basis and foxed the batsman with their smart bowling. The above mentioned budding bowlers kept challenging the batsmen with the flighted deliveries, which could have been easily hit for sixes. Let me make one thing very clear over here that I am not against variations in the shorter formats of the game but as a bowler one should have the knowledge of using them at a proper or required time. Moreover, a bowler should develop supreme control over one or two variations first before unleashing them at the batsman. It is next to impossible to bowl different balls one after the other with perfection. Are most of the bowlers capable of landing deliveries at the right place? Can bowlers maintain the effectiveness of the variations in pressure situation? The answer is big no as a judgment in error could cause the game for the side. We have seen this happening on many occasions in the recent times and the bowlers should be held accountable for this. The best thing is to focus on one or two balls and getting them right in the course of a game. The role of a bowling coach has become preciously important for the bowlers in modern times. A fast bowler like Wasim Akram has enough experience under his belt to teach his disciples about do’s and don’ts of the bowling. It was his magic which guided Kolkata Knight Riders to their second IPL trophy. Umesh Yadav and Vinay Kumar, the Indian pacers had a good tournament as they sticked to Yorker or full length in their bowling. They didn’t try too many things, which not only fetched them wickets but were able to contain the batsman from going for big shots. It was Akram’s magic all the way. Life has become hard for the seam bowlers in international cricket so bowling according to a planned way is the mantra of success.
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