CRICKETERS BLOG

The Qualities Required For One Day Cricket

2009-09-29T10:25:00.002+05:30

Cricket is a popular sport all over the world and one day cricket is arguably the most exciting form of the game. The one day game involves matches that are much shorter in duration compared to test cricket. This is why players who feature in the test side do not always get in the one day team and vice versa.

There are numerous qualities required for one day cricket. A successful one day player needs to be able to improvise and think on his feet. It does not matter as much if a player has technical deficiencies as these are not exposed in the shorter form of the game.

Batting in one day cricket usually involves lots of big hitting with the ball disappearing to the boundary on a regular basis for four or six runs. Improvisation is an important part of batting in one day cricket. This form of the game has seen the development of several unorthodox shots which are not witnessed in test cricket.

Bowling needs to be very tight and accurate this is because unlike test cricket the umpires are very strict where wide deliveries are concerned and a hint of width is usually penalised. Teams usually rely on their two most reliable bowlers to bowl the last few overs in an attempt to keep the scoring rate down.

Fielding has become hugely important and any successful one day team will work hard in the field. The emphasis is on quick and accurate return throwing which puts pressure on the batsmen. If the ball is swiftly returned to the wicket keeper, the batsmen will be reluctant to push for an extra run.

High class fielding also results in the fall of wickets due to batsmen being run out. Run outs are very common in one day cricket simply because the onus is on the batsmen to score lots of runs as fast as possible. This means they will take risks therefore run outs are inevitable. If the fielding side is on top of their game, they will be able to take full advantage.

These are the main qualities required for one day cricket. As the sport becomes more popular teams monitor all aspects of their performance. They do this in an attempt to see where they can improve their skills even further.

How to Play the Square Cut

2009-09-29T10:24:00.005+05:30

The cut shot is an attacking cricket shot which is designed as a boundary hitting shot. The square cut cricket shot is played when the bowler bowls a short ball, wide of off-stump. This is a power hitting shot as a full swing is made with the bat striking the cricket ball on a horizontal angle. This shot can be broken into separate segments. These include...

· Footwork (positioning)

· Impact

· Follow-through

Footwork (positioning):

The positioning of the body is the key to a successful cut shot. The first movement of the cut shot is the back foot moves across the off-stump. The bat is taken back above the back shoulder. Most of the body weight should be on the back foot. The head should be kept still, creating balance in the shot.

Impact:

The strike of the cricket ball should be made with a downward blow, with the arms at full extension. This will generate power, making the cut shot a run scoring shot. As impact is being made with the cricket ball, the wrists should roll slightly. This, with the downward strike of the cricket ball will keep it along the ground, taking away the chance of being caught. Keeping a still head will maintain balance through-out the shot.

Follow-through:

The bat should follow through over the front shoulder. The head should remain still, with the weight still on the back foot. This will enable the batsmen to remain balanced, producing a well timed, powerful cut shot.

Summary:

· Move the back foot back and across off-stump, with bat over back shoulder

· Keep the head still

· Downward strike, with arms at full extension

· Bat follows through over front shoulder

How to Bowl an Outswinger

2009-09-29T10:24:00.002+05:30

The outswinger is where the ball swings (moves) away from the batsmen. This ball is a useful weapon to a bowler's armoury. The outswinger tempts the batsmen into playing at the ball, hopefully hitting the edge of the bat as the batsmen miss-judges the ball, causing a catching chance. Key factors in bowling an outswinger include.............

· Ball position

· Seam position

· Grip

· Delivery action

· Wind direction

Ball position:

The ball position is a key element in swinging the cricket ball. The ball will swing towards the rough side of the ball. This is due to a greater wind resistance on the rough surface of the ball compared to the smooth, shiny side of the ball. When bowling to a right hand batsman, the rough side of the ball should face towards the off-side of the field (left hand side of the ball). This will cause the ball to move away from the batsmen. When bowling to a left hand batsman, the rough side of the ball should face to the off-side of the field, meaning the rough side will be on the right hand side of the ball.

Seam Position:

The seam position helps produce swing, depending on which way it's pointing. For an outswinger, the seam should face first or second slip.

Grip:

The grip incorporates the ball and seam position. Bowling to a right handed batsmen, the rough side of the cricket ball should face the off-side of the field (left hand side of the ball), with the seam position facing towards first or second slip. This will cause the cricket ball to swing away from the batsmen, hopefully catching the edge of the bat. To a left handed batsmen, the rough side of the ball should be facing the off-side (right hand side of the ball), with the seam position facing towards first or second slip.

Delivery Action:

A side on action with the arm coming across the body when following through the crease after bowling the ball will aid in producing an outswinger cricket delivery.

Wind Direction:

The direction of the wind will help assist the ball to swing. The ball will tend to swing in the direction of the wind. When the wind comes across from right to left, when bowling to a right handed batsman, the ball will tend to swing away from the batsmen (outswinger).

Summary:

· Aim rough side towards batsmen's off-side to produce swing away from the batsmen (outswinger)

· Position seam away from the batsmen

· Side on action with the arm coming across the body when following through

· Cricket ball will swing in the direction of the wind.

Hopefully these pointers will help you produce an outswinger delivery. Good luck with your cricket.

How to Bowl an Inswinger

2009-09-29T10:23:00.002+05:30

The 'inswinger' delivery is where the bowler bowls the ball that swings in towards the batsmen. This can prove to be a useful weapon in your bowling armoury. This delivery cause's batsmen trouble as the ball is coming into them, forcing them to play at the ball. Otherwise, the ball will crash into the stumps, or into their pads, causing a possible L.B.W decision.

How to bowl an inswinger:

The ball position is vital in producing an inswinger. The ball will swing towards the side of the ball which is the most roughest. This is due to a greater wind resistance on the rough side of the ball, compared to the smooth shiny side, causing drag or the ball to move towards the rough side. Shinning one side of the ball becomes important when fielding to enable the bowlers to produce as much swing as possible. When bowling to a right hand batsman, the rough side of the ball should be facing towards the batsmen's leg side (right hand side of the ball), with the shiny side facing the off side (left hand side of the ball). When bowling to a left hand batsman, the rough side should be facing towards the batsmen's leg side (left hand side of the ball), with the shiny side facing the off side (right hand side).

The seam position is also important. Generally, the ball will swing where the seam is positioned. To bowl an inswinger to a right handed batsman, the seam should be facing toward the leg slip region, with the rough side of the ball on the right hand side of the ball. This will cause the ball to swing from outside off, into the batsmen. The seam position to a left handed batsman should point towards a leg slip position, with the rough side of the ball on the left hand side.

The grip to produce the seam position should have the index finger and the middle finger held in line with the seam (ie. Right hand bowler bowling an inswinger to right hand batsmen will have the index finger (next to the thumb) on the left hand side of the ball with the middle finger on the right hand side of the ball). The thumb should grip the bottom part of the ball, on the seam or to the side of the seam where you are trying to swing it. Once this grip has been applied, the wrist should point towards the target of leg slip. Once the grip, seam position and ball position are correct, the ball should swing into the batsmen when bowled.

Other factors will help produce 'inswing' such as wind direction and having a front on stance through delivery will help aid the inswinger delivery. I hope you have great success in delivering an inswinger. Good Luck.

How to Play the Leg Glance

2009-09-29T10:22:00.002+05:30

The leg glance is where the batsmen 'flicks' the ball from the stumps or the off-side, onto the leg side of the field. This shot is hard to play but with practice, it can become quite an easy shot to play. This shot isn't a powerful shot; however it is used as a run scoring shot. Generally the shot is used to turn the strike over, getting the singles. But it can also be used to score boundaries or two's as well. There are two ways to play the leg glance. You can either play it from the front foot or the back foot.

The front foot leg glance is played like a drive. This is usually played when the ball is pitched up reasonably full, hitting on the half volley. The other alternative is playing a back foot leg glance. This shot is played from the back foot, on or just slightly behind the crease.

The first step to playing a leg glance is to position the body behind the ball. For a full pitch ball, you stride out towards the pitch of the ball, like you would to play a drive. The head and the weight should be over the front leg, with eyes carefully watching the ball. For a short pitched delivery, the feet should step back and across the off-stump. The body should be positioned right behind the line of the ball. The head should be behind the line of the ball with eyes watching the ball, all the way onto the bat.

The front foot leg glance is played similar to a drive. The bat swings through facing the line of the ball. It is important to keep a high elbow through-out the shot. The ball should be played directly under the eyes. The batsmen's grip should have a strong top hand, with a relaxed bottom hand. The difference is when the ball strikes the cricket bat. Upon impact of the cricket ball, the bat needs to turn so that the angle once impacted on the bat is towards the leg side. This is achieved by flicking or rolling the wrists over.

The back foot leg glance is played like a back foot block shot, with the body positioned behind the ball. The difference is upon impact; the bat needs to be angled towards the leg side. This is done by the same way the front foot leg glance is played, with the wrists flicking or rolling over.

The front foot drive is more of a run scoring shot, where as the back foot leg glance is used to turn the strike over, picking up singles. These shots use the pace off the bowler's delivery, rather than creating power yourself.

Summary:
· Practice
· Position body behind the ball
· Play the ball late
· Watch the ball all the way onto the bat
· Roll or flick the wrist over upon impact, angling the bat face towards the leg side.

How to Catch a Cricket Ball

2009-09-29T10:21:00.002+05:30

One of the most important skills in cricket is knowing how to catch a cricket ball. Being able to catch is important in being able to take wickets as a team. There are two ways in which you can catch the ball. These are to have the fingers pointing up or pointing down. These alternative forms of catching depend on what type of catch you have to make. A common mistake in catching a cricket ball is snapping at it. This is called a crocodile catch which more often than not, results in the person dropping the catch and end up doing damage to their hands.

Two key aspects in catching the cricket ball successfully is watching the ball and to give with the ball. Any good catcher of the cricket ball watches the ball right into the hands. Another key aspect is to have soft hands and to 'give' with the ball. This will stop the ball from bouncing out of the hands.

The most common catch is the fingers down or horizontal catch. This is where the fieldsman 'cups' their hands together. The term 'cup' is used as this is the shape of the hands in this position. This catching method should be used when either catching a skied ball which has been hit up high in the air, or catches that are below the chest. With high, skied catches, it is important to cup the hands up high, at eye-line so you can watch the ball into the hand all the way. Then you can give with the ball.

The other alternative form of catching the cricket ball is the fingers up approach. This is where you cup your hands together but the fingers are facing up towards the sky, instead of horizontal or towards the ground. This form of catching is used when the ball is hit reasonably flat, and above head height or eye-line.

Summary:

· Cup the hands

· Fingers up for flat catches just above head high or on eye-line.

· Fingers down or horizontal for other catches.

· Watch the ball all the way into the hands

· Keep the hands soft when catching

'Give' with the ball. Let the ball come into your hands.

The Relationship Between Captain and Coach

2009-09-29T10:20:00.002+05:30

Most team sports like soccer has just one person that runs the show and this is usually the manager or head coach. There are a number of coaches but their role is purely to coach the players and not select the team. Cricket is different and has a system where each team has a captain and a coach who are both strong personalities. It is open to debate who has overall control of the team. This can change depending when they are on or off the field.

At all levels of international cricket, the relationship between captain and coach is very important. Both individuals have important roles to play but must work together for the benefit of the team. The captain plays a massive role on the field and his influence should not be underestimated. He calls the shots with regard to bowling changes and fielding positions. He is in complete control of the team during the game although the coach can offer advice if necessary.

The coach is not in the public eye as much as his captain and plays a different kind of role. It is the coach's job to develop and improve the individual cricket skills of the players. Of particular importance is working on the teams weak areas. A good coach will do his homework on the opposition. He will compile a range of tactical plans including how to bowl against key opposition batsman. All the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition will also be analysed. The coach will discuss these plans at length with his captain as well as tactics in general.

Most international cricket coaches also have a role as a selector. This is where they have an advantage over the captain who is not part of the selection panel. However, the input of the captain will be valued by the coach and selectors who will not want to alienate the skipper. If results and performances are poor it is often the coach who is held responsible rather than the captain who often escapes the flak. The panel of selectors will also come in for their fair share of criticism.

If you look at all the successful international cricket teams down the years, they have all had one thing in common. The relationship between captain and coach has been a good one. Both parties need to be flexible because there will be disagreements along the way. Any issues between the captain and coach should be put to one side for the good of the team.

Close Catching in Cricket

2009-09-29T10:19:00.003+05:30

This article is going to take a look at close catching for cricket. Close catching is normally associated with fielding in close to wicket; a great example is in the slips or around the bat, such as silly point or short leg.

Often the ball will be coming at pace and so it's vital to have the correct technique in order to not only give yourself the best chance of taking the catch but also to minimise the risk of injury. The technique can be broken down into four main areas, of which we'll work through from feet to head.

Stable Base

The ideal base is to have your feet around a shoulder's width apart with your weight evenly distributed. Having the weight on both feet is crucial as is not only means you're in a good position for the catch but you will be able to make quick movements in any direction.
Some coaches will also recommend that you're up on the balls of you feet but this is less critical - the key is to be balanced.

Hands

Hands should be together with fingers spread and pointing downwards. It is important to do this as it helps to reduce the likelihood of the ball hitting the ends of the fingers, which is pretty painful - trust me on this one.

Hand position will change depending exactly where you're fielding but the general placement is either around the knees or waist. If fielding a little further out from the wicket then the hands may be a little higher.

It is also important to learn to 'give' with the hands once you have the ball. 'Give' (it can also be called 'soft' hands) means bringing the hands back into the body in an attempt to cushion the ball. This helps to stop the ball bouncing back out and also some of the stress on the hands.

Head

The head needs to be over the hands at all times. By doing this it ensures that you're in a good position to take the catch and able to watch the ball all the way into the hands.
Watching the ball into the hands is critical; the cause of many dropped catches is down to people taking their eye off the ball and losing it. Even if other things aren't quite right if you're watching the ball you have a good chance.

Body Position

Again this may change depending upon where you are in the field but for most close catching p you'll be adopting a low body position. By low we mean with a slight bend in the knees and the head leaning forward.

Getting low gives the best chance of reaching low catches as well giving an added spring should you need to make a dive one way or the other. Remember - it's a lot easier to go upwards than it is to go down.

Practice

The way to practice is to have catches hit at you but there are ways to make it more interesting. It's important to also put yourself under pressure when during practice as this will help to prepare for match days. Pressure can be added by making the drill competitive or simply by having distractions around you (one we use is to have people coming up and talking/shouting/being annoying and generally trying to put us off) for example.

Try facing a wall with a partner behind you who will throw the ball at the wall for you to catch the rebound. This will help with reflexes as you'll be 'blind' to the actual throw so have to rely on watching the ball of the wall and into your hands. Move closer or further away from the wall to increase/decrease difficulty.

Another drill of similar vein is to face away from your partner, who then calls 'turn'. On this call you turn around and then attempt to catch the ball which is thrown at the same time. This drill can easily be turned into a general fielding drill.

I would recommend that the majority of practice is carried out with tennis balls, as they not only reduce impact on the hands but the bounce of the ball encourages the use of the all important 'soft' hands. If you can catch a tennis ball consistently then a cricket ball will be a breeze. Of course it is also important to train with a hard ball, so swap between the two. You may want to consider a third option of a windball for a bit of variety.

Summary

Feet shoulder width apart (stable base)
Knees Flexed
Hands together, fingers pointing down
Head over the hands
Eyes watching the ball
Soft hands (or give)

How to Play the Block Shot

2009-09-29T10:19:00.000+05:30

The block shot is a vital cricket shot to play if you are to build an innings. The block shot is where you defend the ball. This shot is often played when the ball is on the line of the stumps. This is so the ball doesn't hit the stumps or your pads which prevents getting out bowled or LBW. This shot is played with soft hands, so the balls momentum is greatly reduced.

This shot should be played similar to a drive. Firstly, the front foot should stride out towards the pitch of the ball. The head should be positioned over the front leg. The bat should then strike the ball, the same way a front foot drive would be played. The only difference is instead of playing through the line of the ball with a follow through, the bat stops dead, played with dead hands. This stops the momentum of the ball. The bat should be angled down. This will push the ball down into the ground instead of popping up for a catch.

With the block shot, the batsmen have more control of hitting the middle of the bat. The block shot is used for stopping the ball hitting the stumps or pads, but it can also be used as a run scoring shot. As the ball's momentum is reduced, the ball takes longer to reach the fieldsman. Therefore a single can be made by placing the ball in the right areas. This shot is important in being able to turn the strike over with singles, instead of being tied down by dot balls.

Summary:

* Move foot out towards the pitch of the ball
* Angle bat downwards
* Play with soft hands
* Play with dead bat - don't follow through

How to Bowl Off Spin

2009-09-29T10:18:00.002+05:30

The off-spinner is the opposite form of spin bowling to the leg-spinner. Hence, the delivery spins the opposite way. To a right handed bowler, bowling to right handed batsmen, the ball spins towards the leg side, from the off side. There are 3 types of deliveries an off-spinner can bowl. These include the off-break (spin), which is the bowler's stock delivery, the doosra and the arm ball.

Off Break: The off break is the standard, stock delivery of the off-spinner. As the name suggests, the ball breaks away from the off-side, towards the leg (right handed bowler, bowling to a right handed batsmen). The grip on the ball should have the thumb under the ball, on the seam. The index finger and middle finger should grip the top part of the ball, on the seam. The seam position should face across the batsmen. The wrist position at delivery should face towards the point/cover region. When delivering the ball, the wrist should turn clockwise, like you would to turn a door-knob. This imparts clockwise (off) spin on the ball. The ball will then turn upon pitching, into the batsmen.

It is important to be prepared to give the ball some flight. That is to loop the ball. This will give you a chance of taking wickets as it draws the batsmen into a loose shot. You and your captain have to be prepared to go for runs when bowling off-spin. However, it does provide a good chance of mixing things up, and taking wickets. The Off Break delivery can vary by the pitch of the delivery (full or short), the flight of the delivery (loopy or flat), the speed of the delivery (slow or fast), and the amount of spin applied to the ball.

Doosra: The Doosra delivery is the opposite of the Off Break. Instead of the ball spinning into the batsmen, the ball spins away from the batsmen, as a leg break would. The grip of the Doosra is the same as the Off Break, with the same clockwise twist of the wrists. The difference comes from the wrist position. The wrist turns so that the back of the faces the batsmen. This causes the ball to be imparted with the spin going in the direction away from the batsmen.

Arm Ball: This delivery is likened to the leg spinner's slider. The ball goes straight on towards the batsmen, instead of spinning. This delivery is bowled without turning the wrists or fingers. This causes the ball to be released with no spin on it, resulting in a straight delivery. To make this ball effective, the seam should be held upright. This will cause the ball to swing.

This ball, with the doosra, should be used as a surprise ball to confuse the batsmen and to keep them guessing.

How to Bowl Leg Spin

2009-09-29T10:17:00.002+05:30

Leg spin is one of the hardest bowling arts to master. However, when you get a good grip of the art, it can be very effective. There are many variations that can be made to your deliveries, which can confuse the batsmen, resulting in them getting out. These variable deliveries include the leg break, googly, top spinner, flipper and slider. Within these deliveries, you can vary the delivery itself. Whether that is by the speed of the delivery or the amount of revolutions imparted on the ball.

Leg Break: The leg break delivery is where the ball spins away from the leg side. This is the stock delivery of the leg spinner, hence the name. To bowl a leg break, the ball should be placed in the palm of the hands or in the fingers. The seam should run across the fingers. When bowling the ball, the wrist should roll over so the ball is released from the front of the ball. When rolling the wrists, the fingers should roll across the ball as well, providing extra spin for the ball to turn once it pitches.

This delivery can be varied by the line or length of the delivery, the speed of the bowling arm, the amount of spin imparted on the ball or by the amount of flight on the ball (a looping delivery which stays in the air, with a higher trajectory, or a flatter, low trajectory delivery). Generally when bowling leg spin, it is important to flight the ball, in order to tempt the batsmen into a shot and get them out. You and your team mates also have to be prepared that the batsmen may smash you around the park when bowling leg-spin.

Googly: The googly (wrong'un) is the exact opposite to the leg break, where the ball spins from the off-side to the on-side. This is an important deviation ball from the leg break as it can completely bamboozle the batsmen if they are not watching the ball carefully, with intense concentration. To bowl a googly, instead of releasing the ball from the front of the hand, the ball is released from the back of the hand. The spin applied to the ball is clockwise, instead of the standard leg break delivery which has anti-clockwise spin.

Flipper: The flipper delivery is where the ball has a lower flight path, and stays low. The ball has backspin imparted on it, while being released underneath the hand. The ball should be place in between the fingers of the thumb, the index and middle. When releasing the ball, these fingers should click together, which causes the ball to squeeze out underneath the hand. This will cause a lower flight path, with the ball having a flatter flight path, resulting in a fuller pitched delivery and a low bouncing delivery.

Top spin: The top spin delivery is where the ball dips sharply, and then kicks up at the batsmen. To bowl a top spinner, the ball should be held like a leg break, with the seam across the fingers, with the thumb, index and middle finger gripping the ball. The wrists should face out towards the offside. This wrist position means that the fingers and wrist impart over-spin or top spin on the ball, instead of leg spin. The ball then loops up, then dips down shorter than what a normal delivery would, with a higher bounce. The ball goes straight on towards the batsmen, instead of turning.

Slider: The slider delivery is where the ball floats in the air, and then stays low. This delivery is opposite to the top spinner, which bounces at a shorter length, and then bounces up high. The slider delivery is bowled with the thumb facing the bowler (opposite to the top spin which has the thumb facing the batsmen). Upon release of the ball, the ring finger and the wrist work in tandem to impart back spin on the ball, with the ball releasing from in front of the hand.

Batting Tips - How to Play a Pull Shot

2009-09-29T10:16:00.005+05:30

The pull shot is played to a short delivery that bounces normally and rises between the batsman's waist and shoulders. The line of the ball must be within reach of the batsman on the off, middle or leg side.

-Backlift:

Lift the bat before the bowler releases the ball in line with the middle and off stump. At the top of the back-lift the blade opens and swings back horizontally behind your head.

-Head and shoulder movement:

Head moves back and across inside or outside the line of the ball. The shoulder follows and opens slightly towards mid-on. Keep your head steady and eyes level.

-Foot movement:

Back foot moves back and across in/or outside the line of the ball leaving the front foot on the batting crease, pointing towards mid-off.

-Weight transfer and body position:

As the ball is hit there is a weight transfer from the back foot onto the front foot which must now be drawn back in line with the back foot as the body opens. The balance should be forward towards the pitch of the ball.

-Bat swing:

The bat swings down horizontally from behind the head hitting the ball with your arms fully extended. Close the face of your bat over the ball at the contact point with the wrists rolling the bat over the ball, hitting it down. The bat follows through over your front shoulder. If pulled correctly it can go from square up to a wide mid-on.

-Common Faults:

-Backing away to leg.

-Attempting to pull the wrong ball.

-Lofting the stroke.

-No weight transfer from right foot back onto left foot.

-Right foot - too closed.

-Not rolling the wrist at impact.

-Arms tucked into body.

-Trying to hit the ball too hard.

Customizing Your Cricket Bat

2009-09-29T10:16:00.002+05:30

Cricket bats have many different features that you can change to suit your needs. These include handle length, bat weight, grade of wood & type of grip.

Most bats are made from English Willow, and the grade of wood refers to the quality of the grain in the wood. Grade 1 means best quality, Grade 4 means the worst. A Grade 1 bat will be unbleached, have straight grains, with no discolouration or marking on the bat face. A Grade 4 bat is usually bleached, will have an irregular grain and some marking to the bat face. The theory is that with straighter grains the bat will hit truer and will be stronger than a bat which has blemishes. Grade 1 bats can easily cost 3 times more than Grade 4 bats.

The bat weight can determine how far you can hit the ball, a heavier bat being able to achieve a greater distance. Conversely, a heavier bat is harder to swing than a lighter one. You may need to experiment with different bat weights to find the one that suits you best.

Handle length is usually just changed according to your height. But you may also need to change this to suit your gripping style. If your hands are close together when you bat then you may prefer a shorter handle, especially if you have a wristy batting action. If you are tall, or have your hands apart when you bat, then you may prefer a longer handle.

You can also choose different materials for the batting handle grip, such as latex or rubber, and different patterns for the grip, like ribs or mini suckers. Again, testing of different grips will help you find your favourite.

All About Cricket Balls

2009-09-29T10:15:00.000+05:30

Cricket balls come in different sizes and materials. For practise or indoor games you use a plastic ball, and for official games you use a cork ball. It actually comprises of a core of cork, which is wrapped tightly with string, and covered by a leather case with a slightly raised sewn seam. Red balls are used in official day games, but you will probably use a white ball in day / night matches. This is because red balls are much harder to pick up under lights.

In men's cricket the ball must weigh between 5.5 and 5.75 ounces (155.9 and 163 grams) and measure between 8 13/16 and 9 inches (22.4 and 22.9 cm) in circumference. Youth & women's cricket use slightly smaller & lighter balls.

For what you get, cricket balls are expensive. You have to spend about £6 on a ball (based on 2009 prices) if you want buy a decent one. Even then you won't get the best quality; you can easily spend £12 or more if you want this. This is because they are not particularly easy to make and the materials aren't cheap either.

When the cricket ball is new you will find it bounces higher, and will probably swing more than when it is old. This is why most sides will have their most explosive batsmen batting at positions 4 and 5. They want them to have the best chance of getting runs, and by batting later when the ball is worn it will be swinging less. That's the theory anyway. If the fielding team polishes one side of the ball constantly, and lets the other side get rough, this can bring into effect 'reverse swing'. This means the ball will swing the opposite way to normal, and in the hands of a top class bowler can be devastating.

How to Bowl

2009-09-29T10:07:00.000+05:30

How to bowl a ball in a game of cricket is a lot easier than what most people think. There is a lot of different ways to bowling and that is what this article is all about. There is spin bowling were you can spin the ball or swing bowling were the ball swings in the air and finally there is fast bowling were the ball rips through really fast. So you will bowl the beat that you can it is a good idea to test out each of the different types of bowling and find which is the one you are best at. Also in this article all the different techniques of bowling and what affect they have to you and to the other players.

Basics to all bowling
Before you go to into all the different types of bowling you have to establish some skills that are used in all forms of bowling. The first thing is that you have to bowl with a straight are you usually start it beside you or in front of you that bring your bowling arm (usually your dormant hand or which ever you fell most comfortable) around beside you keeping it beside you at all times this is crucial because if you don't do this you could give the other team points and you don't want that to happen. When you bring your bowling arm around to near past your ear this is were you realise the ball how you realise the ball can determine whether the ball is spinning or swinging the realise for a fast bowler is basically straight but not for the others. The next step is your run up this gains speed and helps with your accuracy even spin bowlers bowl off a run up (spin bowling is the slowest form of bowling) the run up can be any were from no steps to the length of the field it is recommended that you don't have a length of the field or no run up. The run up can be slow step's or you can actually run in it doesn't mater. When you run in you have to release the ball past your ear when you are a 4ft (1.2 metres) in front of the wickets.

Spin bowling
Now this type of bowling can be the hardest form of bowling but don't let that stop you if you perfect this type it can be lethal to the other team. To do this you do all the steps shown in the paragraph above but you will have a slower run up this helps spin the ball. Spining the ball one way is called leg spin and the other is called off spin. The thing that makes a batsmen play good to a spin ball or bad is their ability to read the spin so when bowling spin you might want to bowl a wrongun which is bowling the opposite spin bowl to what you usually do.

Swing bowling
This type of bowling is were the ball swing through the air and makes the batsmen think it is going to go straight but it swings and tricks them. The bowler holds the ball with a slight off centre seam (were the ball is joined) this makes the air pressure change the direction of the ball. To bowl this ball you will have to have a moderately fast run up. This gives the ball enough speed to move through the air.

Fast bowling
Fast bowling is as it says it is fast this can be a lethal and hurt the other players because it is going so fast. Although it is against the rules to deliberately hurt another player. When this bowl is bowled properly it can trick the batsmen by making them not be able to react fast enough. When bowling this ball you will need a long and fast run up to get the speed needed to bowl a fast ball.

Cricket Spin Bowling Tips - Flight

2009-09-29T10:04:00.002+05:30

Flight is absolutely crucial for any spin bowler. It does not matter if you are an off-spin or leg-spin bowler, without getting proper flight on your deliveries you can never hope to become a great spin bowler.

Flight is bowling the ball above the batsman's eyes when the ball leaves the bowler's hand. The idea is to bowl and spin the ball up, get it just above the batsman's eyes and have the ball drop on him just short of a good driving length. Do not bowl the ball too high as that will make the delivery too slow. The rule is to just ensure the ball gets above the batsman's eyes.

Why is flight so necessary? A few reasons:

The batsman has to keep moving his head to follow the ball's trajectory. Ever wondered why a full toss is so easy to hit? It's because the ball is coming straight at the batsman and he does not have to move his head. However, if the ball is going up and then coming down the batsman has to not only to contend with the spin, line and length you are bowling, but also try and keep his head still while following the ball. And as you know the downside for any batsman is when he is not keeping his head still when playing a shot.

Flight also helps with creating drift or curve. This is when the ball slowly drifts to the side in the air when bowled. For the off-spinner the ball will drift in the air towards the off-side and for the leg-spinner the ball will drift towards the leg-side. The reason for this drift is different than what makes the ball swing for a fast bowler. The technical term for this is called the "Magnus Effect" but all you need to know is that the harder you spin the ball and the more flight you give the ball the more it will drift.

Another crucial advantage that flight gives any spin bowler is that it will result in more spin and bounce. When proper flight is put on the ball it will be bowled at a slower pace and will thus have more time to grip on the pitch giving the ball more time to turn. If the ball is bowled at too a flat trajectory it will only skid on like a fast bowler. A spin bowler does not want this as he is looking for plenty spin and bounce.

Giving the ball flight will have the ball drift, spin and bounce. Getting it all right will result in the batsman having to move his head up and down as well as to the side even before the ball bounced. Which means plenty wickets for any spin bowler. So, do not be afraid to toss it up!

Cricket Batting Tips: The Basics - A Correct Batting Grip

2009-09-29T10:01:00.000+05:30

As a batsman in cricket it is essential that you have a good batting grip to enable you to play the full range of batting shots with full control and precision.

The way a batsmen grips the bat often varies slightly from player to player which is some times reflected in their batting style.
For simplicities sake the easiest way to hold a bat correctly is to lie your bat face down on the ground and pick it up with both hands as though it were a small axe and you shouldn’t go to far wrong.

However, there is a definite recognised and 'correct' bat grip which is taught by the English Cricket Board (ECB).

After picking up the bat ensure you have your fingers and thumb wrapped around the centre of the handle with your hands close together.

The shape should form a 'V', in line between the splice and the edge.

This means that when you are holding the bat a 'V', as such is formed between where the inside of the thumb and fore finger hold the bat with each hand. The two 'V's on each hand should line up almost centrally between the splice/handle and the leading edge.

This is quite hard to explain without out a diagram, but if you have a cricket bat nearby you should be able to try this out.

Often some players rest their fore-finger down the side of the bat/handle and not closed around the grip; this is not recommended as it can lead to injuries (possibly even a broken finger) as you progress to higher levels, with faster delivers and higher impacts.

Your top hand should rest nicely against the inside front thigh.
You should have a relaxed stance, with feet parallel and around a foot length apart. Make sure you have you weight evenly distributed across both feet and keep your knees flexed.
The stance is a side-on position in relation to the bowler and should always be relaxed.

Your head position is very important and you should ensure you keep your eyes level, as having a slightly tilted head actually has been proven to reduce reaction time as it is harder for the brain to process the incoming information. Keep you eyes level over your toes.

Ensuring you have a correct cricket batting grip and stance is essential to your success as a cricket batsman as all successful shots start with an effective grip, stance, backswing and step.