Cricket Fast Bowling Tips: Taking Wickets With Swing Bowling

by Jayesh Gangan
(Thane, Maharashtra, India)

DALE STEYN KING OF SWING

Hi Coach, I am a 15 year old fast bowler, I can swing the ball nicely but I want to know how I can get batsmen out with swing bowling.

What should be the speed for my swing bowling?

Hi Jayesh, your right about Dale, he is king of swing, he has some great competition from Jimmy Anderson of England as well.

One of the keys to taking wickets with swing bowling is to be able to control your stock ball consistently.

You seem confident and I am supposing that you have good control.

Whether you swing your stock ball in or away, the ability to straighten the ball or swing it the other way creates doubt in the batters mind.

A game plan which works very well for Dale is to build up pressure by landing your stock ball on a good length, ball after ball.

If your stock ball is the out swinger make sure you are aiming to hit off stump, this makes the batter play the line of the ball, if it swings they often follow it with their hands and you take the outside edge.

If the ball doesn’t swing you can get the LBW or bowled.

If you swing the ball in, the same line, aim to hit off stump, you’ll start your line wider though so the ball doesn’t go down leg. You may need to move your mid wicket to square leg to protect the push into the leg side going finer.

Dale’s basic plan is to bowl 5 to six overs building up pressure, if you don’t get wickets then you often take wickets for the bowler at the other end.

To make the ball go straight, giving yourself a variation, hold your fingers slightly across the seam in the opposite direction to your stock ball to make the ball go straight or create a little swing the other way.

Taking Wickets With Pressure: Look to land your first 4 balls on a good length, swinging your stock ball, then look to straighten or swing the ball the other way on the fifth ball of the over.

Batters who have played out four dot balls will invariably look for a big stroke, the fifth ball becomes a key wicket taking ball.

If there is no wicket on the fifth ball, close the over down with another ball on a good line and length. Aim for a maiden.

Look to get 2 wickets a game if you are bowling 10 overs in schools cricket.

If you get 2 wickets then you will often pick up three or more.

Aiming to take 2 wickets per game doesn’t create too much pressure and allows you focus on building up pressure without trying too hard.

Speed for Swing Bowling: If your swinging the ball consistently don’t be concerned about speed, your bowling is fine as it is.

Keep up the good work. Best Wishes 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.