THE CRICKET CLINIC!!!

and I am truely grateful :)

Play the swinging ball quite late and watch it all the way on to your bat.

You need to watch the ball out of the bowlers hand, if you think it is going towards the batsmans body then begin to move down the legside, if it then goes down leg you should be able to pick it up with very little trouble.

I am very bad at batting especially at playing extreme pace as i find the ball to fast to see sometimes.
Also when going on the front foot i find that the weight of my legs is still on the back foot. Please Help!

what do you mean by 'back and across' and should i practice
with or without a bat when moving into the driving position as you mentioned?

Hi everyone. I was watching highlights of the famous 2000 Lords test today and I noticed that Walsh and Ambrose, who are two great bowlers bowled at the same pace as the not so great bowlers. The thing that was different about them was that they could make the ball seam an inch or even 2 inches to either side and that is how they took most of their wickets.

So I ask you this question. Is seam the most important skill you need as a fast bowler to take wickets or is swing/Pace more important? And if it was only seaming because of the pitch then why werent the other west indian bowlers doing that?

Sorry if this is in the wrong place, I'm new here.

Remember even further back both Lillie And Hadlee both achieved better bowling figures after they reduced they pace and concentrated ao being able to move the ball and bowl a more consistant line.

yeah i agree but when you get guy like Marshall for example who can make 90 mph and swing it like a bannana you get the great players as opposed to the very good players. Everyone who saw say Marshall was the greatest fast bowler ever so I am going to take their word.

If the pitch is consistently low, and not a bit hit and miss, I find it best to get forward early - often taking guard a foot or so in front of the crease.

Wait for the ball to come to you.. I like to flick slower balls square of the wicket on the onside if they are on stumps, or just outside off stump.

Just noticed that I am struggling with the left arm pace bowlers as a right handed batter. They are coming across me rather than into me and seem to be edging the ball alot more. Was thinking of changing my guard so I am batting on off stump. What are your thoughts and advice on this?

Hallo people Im getting problems playign my sweeps and on-drives =S

Edited by legspinner102 - 30 May 2007 at 2:50pm

I had that problem when I started to move my feet. Things weren't clicking. These days, I get onto the front foot real nice without even really thinking. You will get accustom after a lot of practice. I have a pretty darn good technique but most of the times, I don't concentrate when the bowler is bowling, I mean like watching the ball all the way. I see it in the air then take my eyes off.

Ofcourse you should try moving to the ball but note that you should only move forward to balls on good length and not short balls unless the pitch is staying low. All batsman get problem with swing and when it's right in the spot, you just can't help but just admiring some great bowling. Swing is readable though as the ball moves in the direction it is going in the air. I am naturally good against inswing because of my technique so it really depends on the technique you've got. For spin, just get to the pitch of the ball and it's dealt with.

Nice work! I have had my share of problems from them too.