Spin Bowling | Cricket coaching, fitness and tips

How to Plot a Stumping

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

Stumping is a way you can get one up on your quick buddies. It's an extra dismissal type that quick bowlers do not have access.

The things about stumpings are that many spin bowlers do not plan for it. They simply see it as something that happens when the batsmen charges them and misses the ball.

While I do love the fact when a batsman looks silly after charging me and getting stumped you do not have to wait for moments like this to get them stumped.

Ask the Readers: Help Jack Improve his Bowling Action

Can you help a young spin bowler to improve?

Recently we were contacted by Jack who said:

"This season I've returned to leg spin. Occasionally I get criticised by our captain as I'm not "finishing off my action". I know that when I do, I get drift and dip, and take wickets. Could you have a quick look at my action in the attached video and see if you have any thoughts?"

This question was interesting to me because Jack didn't point out any problems he is having. Only a vague awareness that something might be wrong.

So I thought this would be an excellent challenge for the PitchVision community to discuss.

What can Jack do to improve his action?

What to do When You Lose Your Leg Break

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

Hardik enrolled on my course, and had a follow up question:

"I used to spin a ball big, but then I tried to learn the wrong one. So I kept practising but then I lost my leg spin. How do I get that my leg spin back and then learn to bowl wrong one?"

Oh boy. That does not sound good!

Spin Bowling Tips: Dealing with Multiple Flaws

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

As part of my course, I ask readers to send in their questions. Here is one problem I got from Ihsaan that many other bowlers experience:

Spin Bowling Tips: How to Bowl a Wrist Doosra

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

In part one we examined the role of the doosra and how to bowl the finger doosra. This article looks at the other way to bowl "the other one"

Variation 2 is the wrist variation that was pioneered by Murali and has been used to great effect by Saeed Ajmal. The ball is bowled over the wrist.

You need to get your thumb completely out of the way to make space for the ball to go over the hand. Getting the thumb out of the way also helps opening the hand and helps with the whiplash action of the wrist.

Spin Bowling Tips: How to Bowl a Doosra

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

The Doosra is a ball with a longer tradition than you may think.

An Australian bowler called Jack Potter was bowling these bad boys roughly 30 years before Saqlain Mushtaq even came on the scene. Jack never did play for Australia, but he does hold the record for being 12th man the most for Australia without ever winning the cap.

But I digress. The fact is that the doosra has a long tradition.

The elephant in the room about this ball is a simple question though

Batsmen Hate it When you do These Two Things

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

There are two things that can make things really difficult for batsmen when they bat against spin.

Why You Need to Set a Bad Field

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

There are times when you need bad field placing to get the job done.

Spin Mentor: How to Spin the Ball More

You know that I always am looking to get better myself so I can help players. Recently I have spent time with Muhammad Haroon who now acts as one of my consultants at Millfield School.

Haroon has helped our spinners to spin the ball hard, deceive the batters regularly and has given them unrivalled confidence.

Celebrate IPL 6 by Becoming a Better Spinner and Saving Money

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Menno Gazendam is the author of Spin Bowling Project.

For a limited time my popular spin bowling course, Spin Bowling Project, is available to everyone at a 75% discount!

The flash sale will only be available for a short time as part of the celebration of the start of the IPL 6 season. Spin bowling is vital to success in T20 cricket, and the best bowlers are often spinners in the short format.