Hi Coach,
can you help me in becoming a good off spinner,
I have several questions for you?My 1st question is what is the good line and length for an off spinner?
My 2nd question is which is the best ball to bowl in short over format?
My 3rd question is how to make a perfect action for off spin?
My last question is how to bowl carrom ball and where to bowl it?
Ujjwal Shrivastava
Hi Ujjwal, in the order you asked you questions :
1. If you are bowling to a right handed batter, the optimal line and length is to bowl a full length ball to turn and hit off stump.
The batter should be playing off the front foot, the classic dismissal for the off spinner to the right hand bat is for the line to be outside off, the length full enough to entice the batter to drive.
The batter is beaten by the flight and then the turn, the ball spins back and beats the batter on the inside edge, hitting off stump.
Bowling to a left hand bat, bowl at off stump to force the batter to play, you need to get the LBW and bowled dismissal into the game.
2. You must have control of your stock ball regardless of the format, without a stock ball you don’t have a variation.
You could bowl your stock ball with various paces and flight, using different release points in the crease and you would have ample variation.
See this recent post where I offer suggestions on spin bowling variation and flight
Cricket Coaching Spin Bowling Tips / Working on Flight And Variation
3. Making a perfect action for off spin bowling, choose a spinner that is similar to you, observe and study their action and copy him, that is the simple answer. Pay attention to the pace of the run up, the balance going into the crease and the bowling action, setting up the action and then driving through as the bowler releases the ball.
Study their game strategy and how they set up the over, sequencing deliveries, when and where they bowl their stock ball and their variation.
Modelling the excellence of a world class performer is a big step in the right direction.
4. Here is a great article on R Ashwin on cricinfo, his carrom ball and his aggressive, positive attitude which have helped him to get a foothold into the Indian team.
The spinner who thrives on pressure
Look at what Ashwin’s coach advised and take a leaf out of his book, on patience and determination, use some of this background info from wikipedia on the Carrom Ball to get you going.
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.