Cricket Fast Bowling Tips: A repeatable, automatic bowling action

by Oliver Redford
(UK)

Dale Steyn: Smooth – Automated Bowling Action

Hi, I’ve just turned 16, I’m a fast bowler about 65-75mph at a consistent level, but I have this issue with my action.

I don’t have a set action! I believe I have a talent of imitating an action of a bowler. For example, during a game I could bowl with the action of Steve Harmison then the next ball I would bowl like Brett Lee with the same level of accuracy and pace. I struggle to find a action that I can stick to! What shall I do?

Hi Oliver, it’s not unusual for young bowlers to have this type of problem. You’ve actually learnt your action from watching other bowlers and if you’ve got Sky TV then you’ll have been able to watch the best bowlers in the world.

For your brain and body to learn a stable and repetitive bowling action you need to choose who you want to be as a fast bowler. This can be in imitation of your favourite bowler, the one who you feel most comfortable bowling like.

Choose a bowler who has a smooth, repeatable action like Dale Steyn, Jimmy Anderson or Brett Lee.

Then make the decision to bowl like them all the time so that your brain and body learn to do this automatically. This is learnt consciously to begin with as you pay attention to how you are bowling, after a while the subconscious part of your brain learns this and you don’t have to consciously think about it any more.

Just like learning to ride a bike.

Be patient, allow this to grow into your bowling over a period of weeks and months.

It may help to keep a diary of how it is going, you need to remind yourself of what you are paying attention to in order for the action to become stable and embedded.

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.