Pitchvision Academy
Animated Fielding Drills Get Fit For Cricket


Hi,

Our PitchVision Academy coaches are on a roll. After last week's items, this week we have even more from Menno Gazendam and Gary Palmer as well as a very special guest appearance from Simon Cowell. Perhaps not the first person you would expect to see in this newsletter!

Plus we look at the controversial idea that you get better at cricket you should play less cricket. It's not as nuts as it sounds.

Have a great weekend,

 



David Hinchliffe



How to bowl a slider

This article is an extract from Spin Bowling Tips. Master the art of spin bowling with the most comprehensive eBook on spin bowling ever produced, available now at PitchVision Academy.

The slider or back spinner is the reverse of the top-spinner. Instead of bouncing and kicking as the top-spinner does, the back spinner delivery will skid onto the batsman. This delivery is great for trying to trap the batsman LBW.

Grip

The grip is exactly the same as the leg-spin stock delivery. Two fingers up and two fingers down with the thumb on or off the ball as preferred.

Release

The ball releases the hand rotating backwards.

It is essentially the reverse of the top spinner (explained in previous chapter). The thumb must face the batsmen and the side of the hand (on the little finger’s side) must face the bowler, but with the back the hand facing towards mid-wicket.

Figure 2: Leg-Spin Back Spinner Wrist Position (back)
 

 
Figure 3: Leg-Spin Back Spinner Wrist Position (front)
 
Action

The action is the same as the standard leg-spin stock delivery (explained in leg spin stock delivery chapter).

The shoulders, hip and feet should be aligned with the target. The front arm leads and steers the action and pulls down driving the action forward. As the front arm pulls down the right shoulder will come forward generating the power in the delivery. The right shoulder should rotate towards the target and finish with that shoulder facing the stumps.

Line, Length, Flight and Target

The line, length and flight of the slider should be the same as the top-spinner. In other words, aim it at the batsman and wickets. Bowling the ball too wide will lose the advantage of the ball skidding and keeping low on the batsman.

The length should be a little shorter than normal. You want the batsman to play you of the back foot with this delivery. You are looking for the ball to keep low and trap him LBW.

You can vary the flight of the delivery as well. But do not bowl this delivery with too much flight. The real weapon here is that you want the ball to skid and keep low – and a quicker trajectory is better suited.

This delivery is very similar to the flipper but not as hard to bowl. So, start with this one before moving onto the flipper.

 


 

Master the art of spin bowling with "Spin Bowling Tips" the most comprehensive eBook on spin bowling every produced. Download a copy today and start taking more wickets.


 

 

 



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How to use a trigger move to bat against swing bowling
 

This is part 2 of a 3 part series on trigger moves by Gary Palmer. To go to part 1 click here.

You can use trigger moves to improve your batting technique against swing bowling as well as outright speed.

In this free video Gary Palmer shows you how to adapt your trigger move to the ball that is swinging and pitched up more.

You can find out more about Gary Palmer's coaching at www.ccmacademy.co.uk. If you can't get to Gary for coaching advice, why not bring him to you by buying an online course at PitchVision Academy?

 



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Stop playing cricket: Why too much of a good thing can be a bad thing
 

If you want to be a better cricketer you better play lots of cricket. That's a no brainer. But what if too much cricket leaves players failing to reach their potential?

It might upset some of the players of yesteryear, but the research shows that you can play too much cricket (or any sport) when you are growing up.

Specialising too early reduces ability.

I remember when this was all fields

You only have to look at the way the world has changed for children in the last 30 years to see why this happens:

  • More access to 'non active' entertainments like multiple TV stations and games consoles.
  • Less space to play (For example the mass selling of playing fields in the UK in the 1980s and 90s).
  • Parents more aware of risks and less willing to let children play outside by themselves (or even in groups).

The structured coaching of sports like cricket has become popular because it's a safe and healthy way for children to play in the modern world.

Show me the money

At the same time the rewards for playing cricket have increased dramatically. Even an average professional earns a healthy salary and if you make it to the top you can earn millions in the IPL.

Naturally, players who show some early talent are encouraged to make the most of it by their parents. That means more coaching and more cricket year round than the youngsters of previous generations. It makes sense on one level: The more you do the better you get.

But the players of years gone by all played many sports (in the UK it was football or rugby in the winter and cricket in the summer) while staying active by climbing trees or riding bikes until dark, not specialising in cricket until quite late in their teenage years.

Specialising early is a modern development and one that causes more harm than good.

Physical literacy

You see, just like learning to read and write, cricket is a skill that requires you build a base first. You can't understand great literature without learning the alphabet. You can't understand cricket until you learning how to run, jump and throw.

But many modern kids don't go through this process of learning movement by playing lots of sports and games because they are tied up in formal coaching from the age of 6. If you have some talent, by 11 you could be playing 5 times a week in the summer and training year round in the nets. Sure, you might feel advanced by reading "War and Peace" at 12, but do you really appreciate it without a solid grounding?

The wider picture

The answer, strange as it may seem, is less cricket to become a better cricketer.

The more time you spend doing other activities, the greater your physical literacy becomes and the quicker you can develop your cricket.

Of course, playing cricket is still important, but even the top cricketers have an off season break.

Also, talented young players tend to be in great demand during the summer for school, club and rep level cricket. Is every game essential or could you go climb a tree instead?

Selecting games, playing other sports and making time to just have some fun without structure: Those things will make better cricketers than all the structured nets and low quality games put together.

image credit: mervtheswerve



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What Simon Cowell can teach you about cricket
 

Ever wondered what makes some talented players succeed and others fail?

If there is one person who knows more about picking people with that something extra it's record executive, TV producer and celebrity judge Simon Cowell.

Through shows like Pop Idol, American Idol, The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent, Cowell has honed his ability to pick a diamond from the rough and make it shine.


Read More...
 
Cricket Show 58: Clearing the front leg
 

The highlight of this week's show is Gary Palmer talking about how to perform the fashionable technique of 'clearing the front leg' in Twenty20 cricket to hit the ball over midwicket. In the old days we use to call it the slog to cow corner.

Kevin tells us about his own team's 2nd day performance and we answer your questions. This week we look at:


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: 76
Date: 2009-12-11