by Ali
(Pakistan)
Dale Steyn Wrist Position
Coach, I want to learn how to bowl that special delievery that bowlers like Andrew Flintoff and Muhammad Asif used to bowl, in which the ball pitches on off stump and comes back off the seam and hits the middle stump. Do you have any drills that can help me with this?
I know that the wicket surface matters a lot in that, but these two bowlers are able to bowl that delivery even on flat pitches with the new ball.Hope you will help me sir, thank you Ali.
Hi Ali, yes they were fantastic at bowling the ball that nips back off the seam, Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander are exceptional at bowling it as well.
The seam position is important to start off with, angle the seam slightly toward fine leg, when you release the ball with a good wrist action it will hold its angle and the seam will grab the surface of the wicket and nip back.
You need to work on your wrist action to get a flick, this adds 5% of overall ball speed and helps the ball nip.
Wrist Drill 1. stand chest on, put the ball in your bowling hand, your wrist should be cocked back and the seam facing yor partner. Hold the elbow of your bowling arm with your other hand, tight, now keeping your arm still, practice flicking the ball out to a partner, just with your wrist action.
Bowling Drill 2. Standing still, cock your wrist back and bowl the ball to a partner, as the arm comes over the wrist should flick forward automatically.
Bowling Drill 3. Now off your normal run up, set the seam angle, cock your wrist back and run in with your wrist cocked back, like Dale Steyn does now, it flicks forward as the arm comes over, adding that zip to the delivery.
Check the photo.
It may take a little getting used to but it works beautifully.
Enjoy and Happy Fast Bowling, Coach
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About Richard Pybus
I'm Richard Pybus, I've coached Pakistan, Bangladesh, Middlesex, Titans and the Cape Cobras in South Africa and the goal of this site is to help you to play winning cricket.