| Bowling isn't a natural activity for most people, and | | | | Brett Lee has a classic side-on action, while Andrew |
| it's important to get the basics right to avoid injury. | | | | Flintoff is front-on. |
| There is lots of fine detail to think about, but keeping | | | | Both styles are correct, but mixing them so that the |
| it simple is the best way to perform well and stay | | | | body is twisted will lead to injuries. This is difficult to |
| injury free. There is an ECB Directive that limits the | | | | spot at full speed, but freeze-frame footage from a |
| number of overs that juniors can bowl, depending on | | | | video camera is very helpful. You can help the coach |
| age group. This is to make sure that fatigue injuries | | | | by showing him suitable video stills. |
| don't develop. Check out the ECB web site for more | | | | The leading arm is the "rudder" for bowling straight. It |
| details. | | | | should start as high and as vertical as possible, then |
| Many juniors want to be tearaway fast bowlers like | | | | be pulled down to form an arc in line with the |
| Brett Lee or Shoaib Akhtar. The first steps toward | | | | wickets during the delivery stride. You can stand |
| this are not to have long, energy consuming run ups, | | | | behind the bowler to check if he is doing this |
| but to perfect a correct "one step" action before | | | | correctly. |
| trying to go faster. | | | | The eyes should stay level and focussed on the |
| The run up should be smooth, balanced, rhythmic and | | | | target from the start of the run up, through delivery |
| consistent. Many juniors do run too far, and many | | | | and to the end of the follow through. This isn't an |
| don't mark the length of their run up properly. For | | | | easy habit to develop, but is key to delivering a |
| speed or spin, the aim is to have an identical run up | | | | straight ball. Once the head begins to tilt, the bowlers |
| for every ball. It's all about rhythm! | | | | accuracy suffers. Try watching from behind the |
| Actions can be side-on, front-on or midway, and are | | | | batsman to check this. |
| controlled by the landing position of the back foot. | | | | Good bowlers work in "straight lines" - straight run |
| Side-on actions mean that the back foot lands parallel | | | | up, straight follow through, high front arm, high |
| to the bowling crease, so the shoulders and hips | | | | delivery point and eyes level. Easier said than done |
| point at the batsman before the delivery stride. | | | | sometimes, but keeping it as simple as this does |
| Front-on actions mean that the back foot and chest | | | | work wonders! |
| point toward the batsman. | | | | |