Spin Bowling- Level 2 .
Venkatapathi Raju
How to coach spinners.
The Coaching Strategy.
How to coach spin bowling.
1.
• Identify the Talent.
• Teach the Skills.
• Develop game awareness and tactics.
Spin Bowling.
Identifying the Spinner.
2.
• An effective spin bowler can “shape” the flight of a ball. i.e.
can loop a delivery – lob it or push it through. This can be
tested by his ability to flight the ball over a cord strung over
the pitch, 2/3rds of the way down the wicket – and land the
delivery on a good length.
• The good spinner must be able to bowl a stock ball which hits
an accurate length and line five times out of six in an over.
• He must be able to give the ball a ‘rip’ and turn it – not
necessarily a lot – on the best of pitches.
• He must also have the body action to gain ‘
• Note that accuracy, line and length can be taught or acquired –
but a real spinner has the innate ability to spin the ball hard.
Spin Bowling.
The Bowling Action (i)
3.
Like any other bowler, the spinner must
reproduce a good action, a consistent line, a
good length, a ‘stock’ ball which pitches
accurately at least 80% of the time he is
bowling and which he can bowl at will to
prevent the batsman from scoring.
Spin Bowling.
The Bowling Action (ii)
4.
• The spinnner’s action will vary much more than
the medium-pacer or faster bowlers. E.g. Warne,
Kumble, Muralitharan, Adams.
• Body composition, age, the type of wicket he
usually bowls on and his mentality etc will
determine the slow bowler’s action.
• A spinner’s peculiarities should be exploited and
managed rather than changed. His natural
movements should be encouraged.
Spin Bowling.
The Bowling Action.(iii)
5.
• Unlike faster bowlers, spinners run less chance of
injury – although finger injuries are common.
• Altering a spinner’s action can reduce the
effectiveness of his idiosyncratic advantages.
• Whilst the spinner must observe the usual basic
tenets of bowling, within those constraints, he
must feel comfortable.
Spin Bowling.
An Effective Bowling Action
6. The Basics.
• Use a run-up which allows the bowler to move
into a side-on position in his delivery stride.
• Create leverage against the braced front leg, by
having a high non-bowling arm/shoulder.
• Deliver the ball over the top of the action, moving
the fingers over the ball.
• Transfer the weight smoothly from the back foot
and over the top of the braced front leg.
• Stabilize the front foot on delivery.
• Run after the ball in the follow-through
Spin Bowling.
Spinning the Ball.
7.Side and over spin are the
produced by a good grip,
different wrist angles, and
the varying release points
which yield curve and
drift – n.b. The Magnus
Effect.
• The spinner should release
the ball before or after the
vertical, ‘twelve o’clock’
position.
Spin Bowling.
Grip – The Finger Positions.
8.
• Finger positions for the
Orthodox or Finger Spinner.
• The fingers should be spread as
widely as is comfortable.
• Use the wrist as well as the
fingers to spin the ball.
• Grip the ball so that the fingers
point towards the batsman- and
the seam towards fine-leg (off
spinner)
• For the top-spinner point the
seam towards the stumps and
the fingers of the bowling hand
point towards cover.
Spin Bowling.
The Grip-The Wrist Spinner.
9. The Finger Positions for
the Wrist Spinner.
• Grip the Ball around
the seam.
• Fit the ball naturally
in the hand.
• Use the fingers and
wrist to produce spin
– no thumbs.
• The grips for the
variations of the
wrong ‘un, top-
spinner and flipper
will vary from
Spin Bowling.
The Run Up.
10.
• The run-up begins from a
straight or angled position.
• At delivery the bowler
must maintain his forward
alignment towards the
target of the batsman’s
wicket.
• Poor body alignment leads
to:-
• Round-arm and flat
deliveries.
• No spin or bounce.
• Poor transfer of
momentum and inefficient
body rotation.
Spin Bowling.
Run Up Variations
• 11.
• Spinners may change
their angle of approach
depending on:-
• a/ The batsman being
left or right handed
• b/ Whether the bowler is
bowling around or over
the wicket.
• c/ The bowler wants a
subtle change of line.
Spin Bowling.
The Delivery – Finger Spin.
• 12
• The Finger spinner has a shorter
delivery stride than the wrist-
spinner; the result of a more
closed action?
• The front leg is stronger with
the leading foot being grounded
heel and toe--not just on the
toes.
• The bowling arm is high at
release but not vertical.
• The follow-through should
position the bowler to take the
return catch.
Spin Bowling
The Delivery-Wrist Spin.
• 13.
• The delivery stride is usually
longer than that of the finger
spinner, but will vary between
bowlers.
• The front foot must be on the
ground as early as possible in
order to establish a firm base.
• The bowling arm must be off
the vertical.
• An early stable base will
provide a strong platform to
generate spin and enable the
wrist to rotate through a variety
of degrees for spin variations.
Spin Bowling.
Body Rotation.
14.A strong body rotation provides
maximum spinning revolutions of
the ball. It is achieved by means
of:-
• A high front shoulder and arm.
• Pulling the front arm and elbow
straight down in the the lock-up
position – and finishing in the
‘shaking hands’ position.
• The front foot should be firm on
the ground before the swinging arc
of the bowling arm begins.
• Rotating the shoulders vertically-
with the bowling arm swinging
across the body, passing close to its
leading side and finishing high in
the follow-through.
• Driving the back hip and knee
through in sync with the shoulders.
Spin Bowling.
The Result.
15.
• Mastery of these
basics allow the
spinners to
replicate:-
• Shape.
• Line and length.
• Spin and bounce.
Spin Bowling.
The Aims of the Spinner.
16. He wants to:-
• i/ Deceive the batsman with a
variety of flight paths, which
hits the target of a good length
and line from different
trajectories
• ii/Deceive the batsman with
subtle variations of pace from
different ‘release points.’
• iii/ Maintain a degree of
accuracy which forces the
batsmen to take risks. ‘ Hit the
target consistently over the area
of a six-pack ‘
Spin Bowling.
Practice Drills.
17/
• These are used to measure performance and develop skills.
• Line/Length Targets Bowl to a straight field
• ‘T’ Shape. The Big W.
• High Bar. Close Catchers.
• Broken Lines. Bowling to left-handers
• 3 Different Lengths. Control of line.
• Over Accuracy. Bowling to the tail.
• Six Packs. Pace.
• Consistent Plan. Flight
• Over Patterns Variations
• Stock Balls Bowling around the wicket
• Variations. Line.
• Ball v Bat Analysis. Length variation
• Off and leg side ratio
Spin Bowling.
18. Game Simulation
• Game Simulation
• Net session options.
• The spinner:-
• Makes the batsman to drive the ball between mid-off and mid-on.
• Practices bowling to dominant batsmen.
• Bowls in overs replicating the game rhythm.
• Bowls to left-handers.
• Bowls with a plastic ball/on a wet surface to simulate a turning wicket.
• Sets up no-score zones for batsmen. E.g no cutting, no off-side width.
• Sets a specific field. Game Sense Scenarios – ‘In the Middle’
• Measures the results.
Spin Bowling.
Strategy & Tactics.
19.
• Starter field – W “ The Wall”.
• Line to left-handers?
• Responding to dominant players?
• Bat/pads? – rarely used effectively.
• Slogging tail-enders.
• Batters playing for a draw.
• Six packs/ use of variation.
Spin Bowling.
Management of Spinners.
20.
• Role within the team?
• Wicket-taker? defensive role?
• One-day/Two-day games.
• Field Placements?
• Relationships with coach, captain,
wicketkeeper.
• Selection.
• Under Siege.
