It's the two piece balls.
Pace is overrated if it isn't utilised properly.
They use 4 piece for 2nds and above at club level these days.
High pace itself is a weapon that should be utilised selectively (in swinging yorkers & short balls) rather that what most young blokes actually do (tear in flat out all day). You bring the gully/point in to play a lot more this way. The real aggressive back foot batsmen should be targeted early with fly slip/3rd man & deep fine leg. Don't bother with it once they're set, you switch to the wide slower outswingers then with a deep extra cover and mid off back.
When I used to captain I always started with a fly slip or short third man - people thought I was nuts!
I coach juniors and I’m constantly at them to practice leaving balls especially when they first come into the net.
It depends on your bowlers and the batsman in question.
Sri Lanka skittled for 135 in their 1st innings. England 127/2 in reply. Sure everyone is very interested
Yep, especially as they often get skid rather than true bounce. At least with a tall bloke you know it's gonna bounce - the scariest bowlers I've faced were always short quick guys with slingy actions.
I don't know the physics behind it but I feel the shorter blokes lose a lot less pace off the deck than the tall blokes.
It can catch you out if their short quicker ball is well targeted and utilised sparingly.
It's the angle of the trajectory. The short stuff from the taller blokes allows you to work out whether to go under it or play it, but the shorter quicks can get you tied up in between the play it or leave it selections, due to the flatter trajectory.
it was bad there . When NZ toured there in the 80's one of the Kiwi cricketers said to the umpire
Steyn springs to mind. I can't think of a bowler I'd want to face less as an international batsman.
It worked for them because it was utilised sparingly.
There’s a stack of them in the lower grades. I just leave them, or get behind them if they are straight and have a go if they are in the sweet spot outside wide outside off stump. Not a compulsive hooker/puller/cutter, but I do love my cover drives.
A seasoned batsman knows not to underestimate these blokes, as they can get you out if you don't give them respect.
I've started using one very recently when opening the bowling. I'm not super quick but tall enough and with a high release point. Playing on turf I get some nice pop off the seam and had 5-6 chances off tight, rising deliveries just go over the slips over the course of a few weeks. Fairly confident this placement will pay off soon.
Could we start any worse ?
