Today's article is a guest post from Dr Paul Botha from Spininfo: All you need to know about the art and science of spin bowling.

He never is part of the seam attack who clamour over the pros and cons of the new ball. They sit at the end of a long day’s play with their feet up in the dressing room claiming all the accolades for bowling the opposition out cheaply. 

The spin bowler has to take advice from everyone in the team – isn’t it strange how everyone has an opinion on how the spinner in the team should operate optimally.   The most ridiculous of this type of advice is surely, “Just chuck it up and we’ll catch him on the fence.” What? 

Does anyone besides the spin bowler understand the role that he plays in a cricket side? With the exception of Mike Brearley of course.

This extends to the most accomplished of Test cricketers who find themselves in the commentary booths around the world. Isn’t it amazing how poorly these people are prepared at times? I remember watching a Test between South Africa and New Zealand at a time when the orthodox left arm spinner from South Africa, Nicky Boje, had just entered the Test arena. Comparisons were being made between Boje and the New Zealand left arm spinner Daniel Vettori. Kepler Wessels without hesitation said that Vettori had the edge over Boje because his strike rate in Test cricket was better. “Hang on a minute!” I thought. “That doesn’t sound right?” I looked up the comparative strike rates and, yes, as I thought Boje had a much better strike rate than Vettori at that time.

So, fast forward to South Africa against England 2008, and for some or other reason SuperSport South Africa feel they should subject us to Geoffrey Boycott. A legend in his own mind. Boycott spent the whole series telling the world how rubbish the South Africa left arm spinner Paul Harris was. Fast forward yet again to 30 December 2008 and South Africa have just gone two to zero up in the three test series against Australia. The Australian press have lauded Paul Harris for the role he has played in this epic South African victory. As has Mark Nicholas (probably the best cricket commentator in the world today with Tony Greig) and Shane Warne. They are all in agreement that Harris is a bowler who knows his limitations and who operates successfully within those parameters. He bowls accurately, thereby not giving away many runs in his spells (Test career runs per over at present 2.7 – the same as Shane Warne) and achieves extra bounce because of his height and takes valuable top order wickets.  

What can club spinners learn from Harris? There are certainly plenty of spinners who can empathise with his position as someone with limited skills but a desire to be effective.

You will know early in your career whether you are a big spinner of the ball or not.

If you are a finger spinner and you do not spin the ball a lot (also remember you only need to turn the ball 6 inches to beat the bat) then you are usually on your own, unless you are fortunate enough to be part of a school or club set up where you have an insightful coach. Concentrate on and master the following:

• Ensure that through regular practice you become extremely accurate thereby giving away few runs during your spell and ensuring that a captain / coach will have confidence in you bowling a tight spell.
• You will not take bags of wickets, but through accurate bowling will build pressure leading to taking important ones at critical points in the game.
• Know your field placing - Learn by watching a lot of first class and Test cricket.
• Read about cricket.  Start with former England captain (and psychologist) Mike Brearley's The Art of Captaincy.
• Finally, if spin bowling your specialty, work hard on the other disciplines thereby possible giving you the edge in selection meetings.

Photo credit: ActionPix (Maruko)

Parts 1 and 2 of this series dealt with Practice Routines and Non-Practice Training Routines that a player should develop as part of a ‘Map for Cricket Success’.

This article will deal with your ‘Game Eve Routines’.

You need a game eve routine so you that you can wake up on game day mentally calm and physically fresh. This way you can focus solely on performing to the best of your abilities.

The routines should include an element of mental rehearsal plus all the ‘nuts and bolts’ of preparing for a game. Physically, the player should engage in whatever level of physical activity they find works best for them.

Example 1: The Junior Club or School Cricketer

• A few imaginary shots, perhaps in front of a mirror. Trying to concentrate on making all the right shapes (i.e. bent front knee, high front elbow and head over the ball…).
• Playing the first over or two perfectly and in as much detail as possible.

He should only do this long enough to answer himself honestly when he asked the question ‘Am I ready to play tomorrow?’ with a calm and confident ‘Yes!’

• Confirm venue address and start time. I know this sounds almost too simple, but I know very few senior cricketers who have not at one time or another turned up at the wrong ground or at the wrong time (or date!). check the time and place of your game,
• Make sure your transportation is organized. This may involve informing and organizing parents, looking up the venue in a street directory and setting dad’s alarm clock.
• Make sure all kit is clean and packed. Pack everything in the same order and in the same part of your bag every time. This leaves little room for overlooking a crucial piece of equipment.
  
  • Check shoelaces,
  • straps on pads and helmets,
  • Make sure all your spikes are tight and soles clean. 

This also gives you some time to passively think about the game, making you calmer and more focused.

• No more running around than usual. If you usually have a few throw downs after school, keep doing that.
• In bed at a reasonable hour, even if you don’t get straight to sleep – read a book or listen to some music. Don’t lay awake thinking about the coming match!
• Normal stretching routine

The routine for a senior player will necessarily be a bit more complex.

• Detailed visualization. Smell the grass, hear the sounds, visualize the ball coming out of the bowler’s hand and see the seam.
• Imagine the best possible result for each visualized shot.
• If he knows his opposition well, he should remind himself of their individual strengths and weaknesses and go over his batting and bowling plans.

Once again, he should only do this long enough to answer himself honestly when he asked the question ‘Am I ready to play tomorrow?’ with a calm and confident ‘Yes!’

Nuts and Bolts

Parents will probably not be involved so the senior player must make sure he not only knows where the game is being played, but how to get there on time.

• Check the train timetables or organize a reliable lift if he doesn’t drive
•  If he does drive check the street directory so he knows exactly how to get to the ground. – check you have enough petrol for the trip!
• Clean and pack kit.
• If it is an all day game, pack some food for snacking.
• Respect your team mates and club enough to make sure all your clothing is clean. 

Remember, the point is to leave your mind uncluttered on game day, so do as much as you can the day before!

Physical

Everyone is different, some players like a short, sharp session in the nets to focus their attention for the coming game; some players like a low impact hit out to clear their heads; some players like to get their feet up and freshen themselves for the game. It is a matter of experimenting and developing a routine that works for you.

• Whatever you do focus on doing it properly. Don’t introduce bad habits, reinforce good ones! As much as possible stick to the same physical activity – changing may produce new strains and soreness the following day.
• Make sure any physical activity is preceded and followed by a comprehensive stretch – particularly of any muscles or muscle groups that have been pulling up sore.
• Do what feels natural for you. If you are a very physically active person, doing nothing may in fact increase your stress levels and make it difficult for you to sleep.
• Plan to get at least your average nightly length of sleep.

Remember the key is to develop game eve routines that help you organize yourself way before you need to focus on the game. These routines should unclutter your mind and freshen your body so that game day can be a happy and successful one.

This is just another example of how putting in the hard work in an organized and determined fashion gives you the best chance of cricketing success.