Becoming a cleverer bowler

 

For a legspinner it is key to bowl to the conditions. What I mean by this is that if the pitch is turning a bit then utialise this, pitch it around leg stump and spin it across the batsman to try and induce the edge. This plan should work when the pitch is turning as the line will disrupt the batsman and make him play against the spin which should trouble him when you are first introduced to the attack.

 

The second thing is to bowl the right length. Too short and he will smash you over seg leg, too full and the bowl won't spin. In saying this it is better to be in the full side and he won't find it easy to sweep you if your turning it along way, bringing into play the 'bowled around the legs' as Warne did to Pietersen in the Ashes. In your context though try and make the most of a turning pitch by bowling from leg to around middle stump, any wider and the batsman will find it easy to cut you away if your too short and leave the bowl alone if your to full.

 

If the pitch is not turning then you have a good chance of taking wicket if you have another bowl in your armery. A wrong'un or top spinner are essential in getting wickets on a flat deck as the batsman will expect the ball to turn a little bit but will be surprised if you can turn it the other way or make the ball jump up at him. Bowl the wrong'un around off stump so he thinks it will be a standard leg spinner but will actually turn back in and might get him bowled or lbw if it comes out right. Practice your wrong'un a lot, as you will probably bowl less in a match situation so it is harder to employ. The top spinner is important also. Try and really get the bowl to kick up at the batsman as this can be just as effective as spin.

 

Bowling to the conditions as said is important. But bowling to the match situation is very understated. Often bowler go out there and bowl the same as they would given any context of the match. This is crucial when being a spin bowler.

 

Good spin bowlers can tie up one end when the run rate is high. By slowing the run rate down you aplly pressure to the batsman which makes it easier to force a mistake. Make sure you bowl to your field and if you can bowl defensively. Trust me wickets will come, from either end if this is done.

 

One way to employ this is to make sure you have your best fieldsman in the positions you want. By havig them their there is not only the chance for a catch or half chance but often batsman try and froce singles when the run rate has been slowed down and wickets will come. If the batsman is set then try you have to make sure you bowl to your field, bog him down and throw in a big spinning leggie or a wrong-un to surprise him. The ONLY way this will work is bowling several dot bowls first and keeping your wrong-un or big turning leggie for when you need it as bowling them all the time will become predictable.

 

Talk to your captain before each time you bowl and discuss what you want o achieve. If you want to capture a batsman ask your captain where you think he has a weakness or where you think he hasn't played a lot of shots. The Captain of a side should always been analysing a game picking up on this kind of stuff to assist his bowlers.

 

By being a leg spin bowler you must be attacking and take wickets, that is your job. However many leg spinners bowl half overs. What I mean by this is 2 or 3 good delivers then a half tracker. Bowl at least four delivers you know you can pitch in the right areas and then try something once or twice and over depending on the skill or temperament of the batsman. In your first 4 overs keep the run rate down and try very little, once you have your rythem then it is time to try and rip a couple, doing this at the start can upset your rythem and allow batsman to get on top of you and make it hard for you to settle.

 

Good luck with this bit of info, let me know how you get..

If you don't have a great brain, you won't be a clever bowler. Ever wonder why Warnie out smart so many.

well the above one is just an example, and if your captain is old imean around 30, listen to him he might have played and seen more than you not to worry you will reach that age some day, if you have not already crossed  it. by the way iam not a captain