by Richard Pybus
(Question from Vivek, Lucknow)
Morne Morkel: Automatic Action
Hello Coach, my name is Vivek and I am right arm fast bowler age 17. Sir I have a serious problem with my balance when I comlete my jump, my front foot is not landing straight, it’s facing thirdman and I am losing my pace and balance.
Please tell me how can I sort this out.
Vivek
Hi Vivek, you have developed a habit of jumping out, we just need to re-train the body to jump straight.
I did this exact program with Morne Morkel when he was a young rookie.
This is a job for the off season, so you don’t lose your action during the season.
It will take three months of practice to consolidate this learning but it will be worth it when you have rectified your action.
1. You will use the 1 step, 3 step, 5 step process to train your body, working back to your full run up.
At the nets, put a target down on the line of off stump, your length is five paces from off stump down the wicket.
This is to train your brain and body to hit a length automatically, it also gives your brain a target to focus on.
This begins with you standing in the crease, you are going to bowl at your target off one pace.
I want you to get some plastic cones or soft drink bottles and make a straight channel running from behind the crease, down through the crease and into your follow through. Lay this out like railway tracks, one metre wide through the crease and down the wicket in a straight line.
One Pace:
Whether you are front on or a side on bowler, make sure your front arm and front leg lift up together and snap down hard, in a straight line down toward the stumps at the batters end.
When you are releasing the ball, drive your head down the wicket after the ball in your follow through.
2. Training program. Measure your accuracy by counting your number of hits on your target length and off stump. The goal is to improve each week.
Bowl 12 balls off one pace.
Bowl 12 balls off three paces.
Bowl 12 balls off five pace run up.
Do this for 3 weeks, be very patient, it takes time for your body to create a new movement pattern.
3. In week four, add another 12 balls off 7 paces.
So that is 8 overs, you will be able to feel that this low intensity on the body, but it is giving you good conditioning for your bowling and for controlling your action.
4. In weeks 5,6,7,8 – I want you to bowl
12 balls off 3 paces, then 12 off 5 pace run up, 12 off 7 pace run up, 12 off 9 pace run up.
5. In week 9 – go back to …
Bowl 12 balls off one pace.
Bowl 12 balls off three paces.
Bowl 12 balls off five pace run up.
6. In weeks 10, 11 and 12 I want you to bowl 12 balls off 7 paces, 12 balls off 9 paces and 18 balls off your full run up.
By now your action should be well grooved and your accuracy should be excellent.
Keep track of your accuracy as you progress week by week.
This is a slow steady pathway and should sort out your falling away.
Keep a video record so you can monitor your action and improvement.
Keep us posted as to your progress.
Best wishes Coach
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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.