Seam Bowling

In this lesson you will learn what seam bowlers are trying to achieve. When the ball lands on its raised seam, it can grip the surface or deflect slightly, changing direction off the pitch. This sideways movement after bouncing is called seam movement, and it is different from swing, which happens in the air before the ball lands. A small amount of seam movement, even a few centimetres, is enough to beat the bat or find the edge. Because it depends on how the seam lands, it is partly unpredictable even for the bowler, which is exactly what makes it so dangerous. Your job is to give the seam the best chance to work.

• Seam movement happens off the pitch
• Swing happens in the air
• A few centimetres can beat the bat
• It is partly unpredictable, which helps the bowler

In this lesson you will focus on landing the ball on the seam. Hold the ball with the seam vertical and your fingers either side of it, then release with your fingers directly behind the ball and your wrist firm. Imparting smooth backspin keeps the seam stable in the air so it lands upright. Watch the ball in flight in practice. If the seam is wobbling randomly or spinning sideways, your wrist or fingers are probably moving off the back of the ball. Filming your deliveries in slow motion or bowling to a partner who watches the seam will give you excellent feedback. A consistently upright seam is the seam bowler's main weapon.

• Seam vertical, fingers directly behind the ball
• Firm wrist and smooth backspin
• Watch the seam in flight for feedback
• Upright seam is the seamer's main weapon

In this lesson you will learn a modern variation called the wobble seam. Instead of keeping the seam perfectly upright, you spread your fingers slightly wider and release the ball so that the seam wobbles from side to side in flight. When it lands, the seam might hit the pitch at different angles, so the ball might hold its line, move in or move away. Because neither you nor the batter knows exactly which way it will go, it can be very effective on surfaces with a little help. The wobble seam usually swings less than a normal delivery but is easier to control on some days. It is a valuable option to experiment with.

• Fingers spread slightly, seam wobbles in flight
• Ball can hold, move in or move away
• Unpredictable for batter and bowler
• Useful when conventional swing is absent

In this lesson you will learn about cutters, which create deliberate movement off the pitch. For an off-cutter to a right-handed batter, you drag your fingers down the right side of the ball at release, imparting sideways spin so the ball moves back into the batter. For a leg-cutter, your fingers come down the left side so the ball moves away. Cutters are usually a little slower than your stock ball, which makes them a useful change of pace as well. They tend to grip more on dry or worn surfaces. Practise the wrist and finger movement slowly at first, and only add cutters to your matches once you can control them.

• Off-cutter moves into a right-hander
• Leg-cutter moves away from a right-hander
• Fingers drag down the side of the ball
• Usually slower; grips on dry surfaces

In this lesson you will learn how conditions affect seam movement. Pitches with a little grass, some moisture or a soft surface usually help the seam bowler, as the seam can bite into the surface. Hard, dry and flat pitches tend to offer less movement, so accuracy and change of pace become more important. Overcast conditions do not cause seam movement directly, but a fresh pitch early in the day often does more. Inspect the pitch before the match, talk with your captain and teammates, and watch the first few overs closely to see how much the ball is doing. Then plan your lengths and variations accordingly.

• Grassy, moist or soft pitches help seam
• Hard, dry, flat pitches offer less
• Inspect the pitch before the match
• Watch early overs and adjust your plan

In this lesson you will learn how the condition of the ball affects seam bowling and what the Laws allow. A new ball has a hard, prominent seam that is ideal for seam movement, while an older ball's seam is flatter. Under the Laws of Cricket, fielders may polish the ball, provided no artificial substance is used, and may dry a wet ball with a towel under the umpire's supervision. Lifting the seam, scratching the surface or applying any substance to change the condition of the ball is unfair and can lead to penalty runs and the ball being changed. Always look after the ball fairly and within the Laws.

• New ball seam is hard and prominent
• Polishing without artificial substances is allowed
• Lifting the seam or scratching the ball is unfair
• Changing the ball's condition can bring penalty runs

In this lesson you will put seam bowling into a match context. In T20 cricket you rarely have long spells to work a batter out, so use movement when it is there, but always prioritise hitting your lengths. A hard length in the channel outside off stump, with the seam upright, can bring edges and play-and-misses early in the innings. As the ball gets older or the batter settles, mix in cutters and wobble seam to vary the movement and pace. Agree your field with your captain so that edges and mistimed shots are covered. Remember that a seamer who is accurate and moves the ball a little is valuable in every phase.

• Use movement when available, but prioritise length
• Hard length in the channel brings edges
• Mix cutters and wobble seam as the ball ages
• Set fields that cover edges and mistimes