Bowling action
Encyclopedia
In the sport
of cricket
, the bowling action is the set of movements that result in the bowler releasing the ball in the general direction of the batsman.
The bowling action can be broken down into a number of parts:
There are certain principles that apply to all parts of the bowling action, such as balance, athleticism and keeping the movement flowing in a narrow corridor directed towards the batsman.
Coaching books describe idealised bowling actions. But good coaches are well aware that many successful bowlers employ their own unique styles and some give birth to new, improved technique. The above links all describe the most commonly taught techniques.
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
of cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, the bowling action is the set of movements that result in the bowler releasing the ball in the general direction of the batsman.
The bowling action can be broken down into a number of parts:
- GripGrip (cricket bowling)One of the key factors in cricket bowling is the grip. Variation in grip has a major influence on the outcome of a delivery. Below is the grip for an inswing delivery....
- Approach (run up)Approach (cricket)In the sport of cricket, the approach is the motion of the bowler prior to bowling the ball. It is also known as the run-up.A spinner's approach differs from that of a medium pace or fast bowler, but certain principles remain the same:...
- Bound (pre delivery stride)Bound (cricket)In the sport of cricket, the bound is a jump that allows the bowler to transition from the run-up to the back foot contact position. For a chest on bowler not much transition is needed. So, many chest on bowlers have a low, short bound. In contrast, side on bowlers need to rotate their bodies...
- Back foot contactBack foot contactIn the sport of cricket, back foot contact is position of the bowler at the instant when the back foot lands on the ground just prior to delivering the ball...
- Front foot contactFront foot contactIn the sport of cricket, front foot contact is the position of the bowler at the moment when the front foot hits the ground just prior to delivering the ball. For a right-handed bowler the front foot is normally the left foot.-See also:*Grip*Approach...
- Point of releasePoint of releaseIn the sport of cricket, point of release is the position of the ball in relation to the body at the moment when the ball is released. It is crucial for the arm to be stiff, not bent, and the wrist rather looser, to ensure smooth release of the ball, and sufficient bounce off the pitch...
- Follow throughFollow through (cricket)In the sport of cricket, the follow through is the motion of the bowler after releasing the ball.-See also:*Grip*Approach*Bound*Back foot contact*Front foot contact*Point of release*Cricket terminology...
Coaching books describe idealised bowling actions. But good coaches are well aware that many successful bowlers employ their own unique styles and some give birth to new, improved technique. The above links all describe the most commonly taught techniques.