Cricket Bowling Tips: Fast Bowling / Taking Wickets With Pace

by Brandon
(Canada)

Hi Coach I want to know how to take wickets with pace.

Brandon

Hi Brandon,

whether your a medium pacer or a quick bowler you need to be getting the ball into the ‘three-in-one ‘zone consistently.

What is this 3-in-1 Zone ?

It’s the length and line that all the great bowlers from Dale Steyn to Waqar Younis to Glenn McGrath bowl to bring in the possibility of 3 dismissals with one delivery.

The dismissals are bowled, LBW and caught behind.

The length is quite full, it needs to be to get the LBW and bowled dismissal into play, the ball isn’t bouncing over the height of the stumps.

In mens cricket I measure this as five yards from the stumps, in junior cricket its going to be between 3-4 yards dependent on age group.

This length pulls the batter out of the crease and invites the edge and front foot shot.

The line is off stump and middle and off, the wickets and LBW need to be in play.

You can use your bouncer occasionally to push the batter back, this makes the batter more hesitant abut coming forward, which leads to indecisive foot work and a lack of commitment to the shot.

Bowling Drill:

A simple drill for you to develop the control and length that you need to consistently take wickets is to bowl in the nets or on a middle strip at a target, a plastic cone or sports drink bottle will work, four yards from the batters crease, on a line of off stump.

You don’t want to compromise your pace, so when you’re warmed up, run in and bowl quick, but focus on hitting the target, focus your attention on it, after a while your focus and skill execution will become less conscious and your strike rate will go up.

You can work on this in between net days, for 30 or 36 balls.

Mark your scores in a note book, so that you track your accuracy, set small goals to improve each month. Keep it realistic, small steps week by week gets you to your goals.

Happy Bowling and lots of wickets.

Coach

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.