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Hi,

Welcome to the California Cricket Academy Coaching Tips Newsletter!

As you know, CCA offers sustained world-class coaching for grass-roots and elite cricketers. However, we are not alone in shaping the future of the game in the USA.

That’s why we have teamed up with our friends at PitchVision Academy - creators of a brand new ball tracking system and leading online coaching resource - to provide a weekly cricket coaching newsletter.

We know the game matters to you. That's why we are going to provide you with all the latest coaching tips and tricks to help make you a better player or coach. In your inbox, every Friday.

Top names like Kevin Pietersen, Nathan Bracken, Ian Pont and Aakash Chopra are all set to explode your game and make your technique powerful enough to blast to the next level!

So sit back and enjoy this week's edition, packed with tips to help you make the most of your game.

Have a great weekend,



David Hinchliffe



Spinners: Technology will Save your Life

  

I was talking to the senior player in my team the other night about the decline of spin quality in the last 30 years.

There was no doubt in his mind that there are far fewer spinners of far lower quality than when he started playing. It's a sad story because spinners are match winners, especially in draw cricket.

I told him that we are on the edge of a resurgence in spin because of the rise of technology.

In the old days every team had two or three spinners who could turn it on drying wickets. As covering got better and captains took more cues from limited over tactics these advantages fell away. Spinners became defensive. Fewer and fewer youngsters wanted to be a part of it.

Then Hawkeye arrived at the top level.

Umpires started giving LBW decisions on the front foot. The old mantra of "he was a long way forward" started to sound hollow as technology proved that a lot more balls hit the stumps.

Umpires at lower levels started agreeing with technology and grew in confidence to give batters out.

Big ripping, dipping and biting spin has become an attacking option that captain's can trust. Even at levels without TV replays.

More wickets, more spinners

And this is just the start.

With technology like PitchVision available at the grass-roots level, bowlers can see for themselves how often they hit the stumps. They can appeal with more confidence becaause they have seen the ball go on to hit in practice so much more. The know how much it turns and where to pitvh the ball to get bowled and LBW.

Meanwhile keen umpires can use technology as a deliberate practice training tool. They can stand in nets, give decisions and see - in real time - how accurate they are. Any umpire's decision making will go through the roof with that kind of effort.

And as a spinner, why would you stop an umpire coming to a training session you are attending?

Heck, you should be calling, texting and email to get your local officials down for a go on PitchVision.

The future has arrived with technology and spin. Now it's up to you to make the most of it.



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Hot like the Sun: Coach Bowlers to Bowl like Broad
 

Graeme Swann described Stuart Broad as "hot as the surface of the sun" at Durham after his match-winning 11 wicket Ashes haul.

So how did Broad do it, what happened to give him such an edge in the match? And what lessons can we learn from it.

 

1. Shifting length

Broady used to be fixated with back of a length bowling. His line is generally immaculate, yet too many balls would fly through harmlessly to Matt Prior.

At Durham, Broad hit a fuller length on a more regular basis and this bought the stumps and edge into the game.

5 of his wickets in the 2nd innings were LBW or bowled demonstrating the adjustment he made from Old Trafford.

2. Working in your change up ball

When Broady changed his length he tended to go to a committed bouncer: Very Glen McGrath-like.

This is a great combination ball when the ball is swinging as it will prevent the batter from simply pushing forward every ball.

The ball to get Smith out was a bonus. Broad delivered it to take Smith's feet and decision making away from him yet picked up a bonus wicket through his surprise element.

If you have no bouncer to club up with your length ball, then push your point to deep point and slide in a wider, away swinging half volley. The batter will be tempted and the slips/keeper will be waiting.

If he nails it then there is a good chance it will only be a single to your deep point.

3. Recognise the times to bowl at top pace

During my time around Test cricket, I noticed how quality fast bowlers chose the time to maximise their pace and other times to sit into a spell at a lesser pace.

Zaheer Khan was a master of this. He would bowl at 75-78mph when the ball was not swinging and as soon as it did Zaheers pace would rise to 83-85mph to capitalise on the changing ball condition.

On Monday, Tim Bresnan started to get the ball to reverse a little, something that the commentators felt would not happen as the outfield and square were green and lush. Yet the ball did start to tail as a result of getting old and battered.

Broad noticed this and his pace rose from 83mph to 91mph. The swing started to increase and the reaction time of the batter started to decrease.

The lead up to Michael Clarke's dismissal was textbook. Reaching top pace, hitting the length that brings the stumps into play and the off stump rocked back!

Learn to hold your pace at a manageable level when the ball is not moving laterally so you can build pressure through dots.

Then have the capacity to increase your pace when the ball is swinging conventionally or through reverse/contrast swing.

Master this and you will be a bowler for all conditions. Just like Stuart Broad.



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Cricket Show S4 Episode 32: Bell's Ashes
 

Mark Garaway is glowing with Ashes victory pride this week as he discusses the lessons of Ian Bell's Ashes story with David Hinchliffe and Burners.

The team also answer your questions on setting up development squads at club level and dealing with hamstring issues as a fast bowler.

Remember, you can participate in the show and win a prize!

 

 

 

PitchVision News Links

  • New names perform on Interactive
  • PitchVision and Bangladesh A at Lord's

How to Send in Your Questions

If you want to win a cricket coaching prize, you need to send in your burning questions to the show. If your question is the best one we give you a free online cricket coaching course!

Send in your questions via:

Or you can call and leave your question on the Academy voice mail:

+44 (0)203 239 7543

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How to Listen to the Show

Just click the "play" button at the top of the article.

Or, the show comes out every Friday and you can listen to it on your computer, mp3 player, smart phone, iPad or other tablet every week automatically.

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You can also download this show onto your computer by clicking the play button at the top of the article, or clicking on the mp3 to download.

 

This is show number 225.



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Spin Dilemma: Bowling a Doosra without Changing Action
 

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

Here is a spin bowling question from Arutha that was emailed in:


Read More...
 
Cricket Training Ideas: Halftime Bowling
 

Pre-match warm ups at the grass-roots level have transformed in recent years, but how would you like an often missed yet simple upgrade to get you more wickets?


Read More...
 

About PitchVision Academy
 

Welcome to this week's guide to playing and coaching better cricket.

I'm David Hinchliffe and I'm Director of the PitchVision Academy team. With this newsletter you are benefitting directly from over 25 Academy coaches. Our skills include international runs and wickets, first-class coaching, cutting-edge research and real-life playing experience.

 
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Issue: 268
Date: 2013-08-16