Swing Bowling | Cricket coaching, fitness and tips

How to Coach Luck Into Your Bowlers

Every team has the unlucky bowler who beats the edge to ohhs and ahhs from the slips yet picks up the rare wicket.  The ball just swings too much to find the edge.

Can you turn that bowler from “unlucky fred” into “fantastic fred”?

Bob Woolmer on bowling swing

The following article is an extract from "Bob Woolmer on Bowling" a coaching book from the late Bob Woolmer; former Pakistan, South Africa and Warwickshire coach. Published with permission.

Classic bowling dismissals: In swing

This article is part of the 'Classic bowling dismissals' series. To go to the start, click here.

Often thought of as the easier type of swing bowling, the inswinger can be a devastating weapon when used effectively.

When bowling to a right-handed batsmen, here are the classic ways to get a wicket:

Classic bowling dismissals: Away swing

This article is part of the 'Classic bowling dismissals' series. To go to the start, click here.

Bowlers who can swing the ball away are a precious asset to a team: They take wickets. No matter what format you play, wickets win you games and moving the ball away from the bat in the air is one of the best ways to deceive a batsman.

Field Settings: Right arm fast, inswing, new ball, fast wicket, long format

This article is part of "The complete guide to cricket field settings" series.

The fast bowling inswing field is even more rare than the outswing field, however it can be effective for a genuinely fast bowler (at club level that is around 80mph or 129kph) on a pitch that is very quick.

Field settings: Medium pace, some movement, old ball, club wicket, long format

This article is part of "The complete guide to cricket field settings" series.

This field is effective in club matches, especially in England. It works well in a number of different conditions to a number of different types of medium pace bowlers (swing, seam, slow or fast). You can use it to both take wickets and restrict scoring in longer format games.

Bowling around the pole: Wrist position and swing bowling

In the art of swing bowling, subtle and minor adjustments can make major differences to the amount and type of swing you get.

It's easy to see what the grip looks like for inswing and outswing. It's also easy to see if you are making chances of swing improve by having an upright seam position as the ball travels towards the batsman.

How to get more wickets with swing bowling

Picture the scene. You are at the end of your run up. Conditions are in your favour and the ball has been swinging. Slips, gulley and the wicketkeeper are waiting.

You have been pitching the ball up a little further to encourage it to move but so far the batsman has been on top of you, hitting three drives through the gap at cover. He’s 12 not out.

You are not worried.