Weeks 2 & 3 - Swing Bowling

From run up to swing bowling. Swing bowlers and wrist spinners probably stand side by side as the craftiest. Because the ideas and techniques of swing bowling overlap into other areas and bowling types, we thought this area of cricket ought to be looked at second on the list. Bowlers can generally be divided into 3 types: spin, medium and pace. Within these 3 general types there are further sub types such as off-spin, leg-spin, seam, in-swing, out-swing etc. The list can get confusingly long when one adds considerations of left and right arm, tall and short, front and side on and then add to the mix subtle gradiences of pace and flight. Common to all bowling however is the ability to utlise the unique nature of the cricket ball. In learning about swing bowling, a bowler ought to appreciate the peculiarities of a cricket ball which can be taken advantage of in gaining the competitive edge. Therefore lessons in swing form the next fundamental level which can then be built upon to enhance other types of bowling. Although a golf or baseball also swing, the reasons are usually quite different as to why a cricket ball will swing. The seam of the cricket ball is at the heart of the cause. It divides the ball and provides an irregularity, like night and day. What we then do with that division can then be compared to the four seasons of the year. They say variety is the spice of life and thus it is with cricket. These little stitches make a big difference. It is at this point of the course we hope participants realise that their own new ball is not just some sort of possession to make them feel good about coming along. It is the main tool they will be working with over the next 4 weeks and every encouragement will be made to look after their new possession. Like the craftsman who takes care of his tools the rewards will be rich if they do. No type of bowler is more concerned about ball maintenance and shine than the swing bowler. While the pace bowler is gifted with a hard shiny new ball to give him all sorts of assistance, and the spinner wold love to see all shine disappear to enhance his handy work, the swing bowler stands between the two ready to take advantage of the ball which is not quite new, but still capable of being shined at least on one side. Swing bowling is a combination of science and art -  the blending of well known aerodynamic and atmospheric principles with pragmatism . To this day no scientist has been able to fully explain with any confidence how all the factors effecting swing bowling really work. Sometimes the ball will swing wildly. Other days it will hardly swing at all. It may swing late or early. And sometimes it may start swinging in precisely the opposite direction than it was intended. For two weeks the clinic will be looking at all the factors that effect swing and how to make the most of them. This is a big ask because the clinic’s 12 week duration could easily be devoted to swing bowling alone. By looking at the ball, action, pitch, type of weather and then experimenting with proven techniques as a base, the clinic hopes to provide participating players with a firm base to later develop their skills with confidence and intelligence.

Week 2: Swing Bowling 1. The Theory of Swing – why a cricket ball will swing - Shine - Atmosphere - Action – Side on vs Front On - Speed & Length - The Rudder Effect - The 4 pivot points Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist and Fingers - keeping the seam straight - “Reverse” Swing - “Slobber”or “Weighted” Swing (Practical – Demonstration of Grips and Alternatives) 2. The Practice of Swing - Ball Care and Maintenance - Grips and Ball Position - Variations - Getting Side on/Getting Front on - Crease Position and Angle - Outswing vs Inswing – Mixing it up. - Keeping the seam upright – Wrist Position. Flicking the Fingers - Working out the batsman and game position - Attacking Lengths vs Defence Lengths - the Diminishing Zone - The ideal speed for swing - Setting your field - Experimenting - The Corridor of Uncertainty - Why batsmen like bananas and pies 3. Variations of Swing - Speed - Faster and Slower Balls - Length  - Yorkers and Bouncers - Seam Movement or Why it’s not swing and achieving both with the same ball - Letting a Bad Pitch do your Good Work - The Wicket Keeper and Stumpings – using code - Cutting the ball  - why it’s not spin or swing and achieving speed and direction variation with the same ball. - the difference between swing and seam bowling and why you can have both.

Terry Alderman showing a classic swing bowler's acion, side on and close to the stumps. In 1989 Alderman helped Australia win the Ashes by being the leading wicket tourer on the Engllish tour. Using a basic tactic of bowling 2 to 3 accurate outswingers then making one cut back he picked up many LBW victims. English conditions are generally regarded as more favourable for swing than Australian conditions, but that doesn't mean the ball will not swing in Australia, esepcially with a two piece ball. Alderman was the last great Australian swing bowler. Click here for an interesting article on Terry Alderman and swing bowling..

Two diagrams showing the theory behind swing bowling. Both show the seam slightly turned exposing the shiny side a little more front on to the breaking air. The seam and roughness on one side creates differing speed of air pushing the ball slightly side ways.  One side of the ball is really travelling slightly faster than the other side. Yachts sailing close to the wind and airpane wings lifting a plane rely upon the same principle to do their job and have more in common than why a baseball or soccer ball will curve.  But there are other ways to make a cricket ball swing and this is just one factor in  making a ball swing.

Below are the standard grips which top level cricketers use to swing the ball. Club cricketers who use two piece rather than four piece balls can quite effectively relax the need to turn the seam and rely purely upon the difference of shiny and rough side. The advantage of this is that by keeping the seam upright and straight, the chances of landing the ball on the seam are greatly increased. The leads to variable bounce either in height or direction. Because four piece balls are harder to swing it is usually necessay to use the method below to make them swing.

Weeks 4 & 5 - Pace Bowling