Bowling Fundamentals and Grip

In this lesson you will look at the job of a bowler in a twenty over match. Your aims are to take wickets and to limit the runs the batting side scores, and in T20 cricket those two aims are always balanced against each other. A bowler delivers an over of six legal balls, and in standard T20 playing conditions each bowler may bowl a maximum of four overs, although you should always check the WFA competition regulations. Every delivery is a small contest with the batter. You will discover that good bowlers think about where the ball lands, how fast it travels and what it does after it pitches, rather than simply running in and hoping for the best.

• Bowlers aim to take wickets and restrict runs
• An over is six legal deliveries
• Standard T20 limit: four overs per bowler
• Every ball is a planned contest with the batter

In this lesson you will meet the two broad families of bowling. Pace bowlers, sometimes called seamers or fast bowlers, rely on speed, bounce and movement off the seam or through the air. Spin bowlers bowl more slowly and use their fingers or wrist to make the ball rotate, so that it turns after pitching and deceives the batter in flight. Within spin there are finger spinners, such as off-spinners, and wrist spinners, such as leg-spinners. Many players try both before settling on one. You do not need to choose today. Instead, focus on understanding that the grip, the action and the plan all change depending on the type of bowler you want to become.

• Pace relies on speed, bounce and seam or swing
• Spin relies on rotation, flight and turn
• Finger spin and wrist spin are different skills
• Try both before you specialise

In this lesson you will learn the grip that almost every pace bowler starts with. Hold the ball with your index and middle fingers either side of the seam, slightly apart, with the seam pointing straight up towards the batter. Rest the ball on the side of your bent thumb underneath, roughly on the seam. Keep a small gap between the ball and your palm so that the ball sits in your fingers rather than being clutched in your hand. A relaxed grip lets the wrist stay behind the ball and helps the seam stay upright through the air. Practise looking at the seam as you hold it, and then try to feel it without looking.

• Index and middle fingers either side of the seam
• Thumb underneath, resting on the seam
• Leave a gap between ball and palm
• Hold in the fingers, not the palm

In this lesson you will explore how tightly to hold the ball and where your wrist should be. Squeezing the ball hard creates tension that travels up the arm and usually makes you less accurate. Aim for a firm but relaxed hold, as if you were holding an egg you did not want to crack. Your wrist should sit behind the ball at release, so that your fingers push through the back of the ball towards the target. If your wrist falls to the side, the seam wobbles and the ball may slide down the leg side. Simple flicking drills against a wall or to a partner help you feel a strong wrist and a clean backspin release.

• Firm but relaxed pressure, never a squeeze
• Wrist sits behind the ball at release
• Fingers push through the back of the ball
• Use flick drills to feel a clean release

In this lesson you will try the basic spin grips so that you understand how rotation is created. For off-spin, the top joints of your index and middle fingers sit across the seam, spread wide, and the index finger does most of the work, turning the ball clockwise for a right-arm bowler. For leg-spin, the ball sits in the fingers with the third finger bent along the seam, and the wrist does most of the work as it flicks the ball out of the back of the hand. Do not worry about perfect turn at this stage. The important thing is to feel the difference between a finger-driven and a wrist-driven release.

• Off-spin: fingers across the seam, index finger works
• Leg-spin: third finger along the seam, wrist works
• Finger spin and wrist spin feel very different
• Focus on feel before turn

In this lesson you will learn the basic Laws that every bowler must respect. Under the Laws of Cricket, for a fair delivery some part of your front foot, whether grounded or raised, must land behind the popping crease, and your back foot must land within, and not touching, the return crease. Your bowling arm must not be straightened during the delivery, which is why bowlers keep the elbow from extending as the arm comes over. A front-foot no-ball gives the batting side a run and, under standard T20 playing conditions, a free hit. You will see that good habits at practice, such as marking your crease, save valuable runs in a match.

• Front foot: some part behind the popping crease
• Back foot: within and not touching the return crease
• The bowling arm must not be straightened
• Front-foot no-ball in T20: extra run plus free hit

In this lesson you will learn how to build bowling skills without getting hurt. Always warm up properly before you bowl, starting with gentle jogging and mobility, then building to short run-ups before you bowl at full effort. Bowl in a supervised net or practice area with the right equipment, and make sure batters wear a helmet and appropriate protection. Short-pitched bowling, high workloads and changes to your technique should always be practised with appropriate supervision. Stop if you feel sharp pain, especially in your back, side or shoulder, and seek advice from a qualified professional. This module is guidance only and is not a substitute for accredited coaching or medical advice.

• Warm up before every bowling session
• Bowl in supervised areas with proper equipment
• Get supervision for short-pitched work and technique changes
• Stop and seek advice if you feel sharp pain