Menno Gazendam is author of Spin Bowling Project. Get your free 8 week spin bowling course here.

You will hear commentators talk about bowling in channels and lines and that good bowlers should look to bowl good lines.

This is true, but not the whole story.

When we talk about bowling a certain line, we define it in channels:

• off-stump
• outside off-stump
• middle stump
• leg stump or outside

But, remember the delivery point on the popping crease will influence the line you bowl.

For example: An off-spinner bowls an attacking line a foot outside off, but he he delivers it from wide on the popping crease, then all he does is angle the ball in.

He might be bowling the correct line, but the angle of the delivery will result in him being worked on the leg side.

He needs to bowl that line and deliver it from closer to the stumps.

Or if he bowls around the stumps and aims for 6 inches outside the batsman might be able to work him to backward point.

Whereas if he bowls it a bit closer to the stumps at the batsman’s side the angle created will stop the batsman working him to backward point.

The position you take in your delivery stride influences the angle/line you bowl greatly.

You cannot think about your channels by just thinking about where the ball should arrive at the batsman. You need to think of what is happening at both ends.

So, think of all the different lines you bowl, and remember that they are influenced by the angle from your delivery position.

You need to establish where you want the batsman to play you. Then plan your delivery position, angle and channel to make that happen.

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