The Science and Art of Bowling
The most important stroke in tennis is the serve. It is the opening salvo of every point and sets up the whole rally that subsequently unfolds. Virtually all elite players have good serves, and some top players — like Ivo Karlovic, Goran Ivanisevic, and even the great Pete Sampras — were competitive despite glaring weaknesses in their game largely because they had unreturnable serves. The serve is also the only shot where players have complete control and aren’t reacting to an opponent’s stroke. Players thus practice their serves relentlessly and use data to help them improve.
Cricket, by contrast, is often considered a batsmen’s game, even though every delivery begins with and is structured by the bowler. However, bowling is the only skill where players have complete control and aren’t (like batsmen) making split-second reactions to their opponent.
But bowling is not easy: it takes a lot of grit, hard work, and determination to bowl every delivery constantly at 130 to 140 KMPH for any fast bowler and for a spinner to bowl over 15 to 18 overs in one session of a test match. The practice sessions will be equally tough for the bowlers as they have to give their 100%, only then they’ll be able to replicate the same in the matches.
Over the past two decades, several tools — like bowling machines and sidearm throwers — have emerged to help batsmen train. What tools are available to help bowlers track and improve their game?
Bowlers require a variety of skills: a firm grip of the ball; an athletic run-up, a smooth, momentum-enhancing pre-delivery stride; clean gathering and loading; high release point; excellent wrist position to generate backspin or front spin; and a strong follow through.
Exploiting lateral movement in the air or off the pitch — as well as bowling googlies, inswingers, and slower balls — requires further skills and ones which can be trained.
To improve one’s bowling performance over time, it is important to track key bowling parameters — things like line, length, speed, seam position, swing, dip, turn and bounce. TV channels show bowlers’ speed and provide interesting charts to show the key landing areas of successful bowlers. But how can everyday cricketers measure these data?
