This article will go into detail about how to be a fast bowler. It is not meant to be read in one sitting, but rather spread out over several sessions to get the most out of it. Some information here can be difficult to grasp at first, so try your best to do that before moving onto the next part.
There are five main components to being a fast bowler. These components come together to make you a much better bowler. By having these skills down-bowling speed can be improved along with the accuracy of your deliveries.
It is important to have all of these fundamentals down before trying to improve your bowling.
Arm speed
One of the most important things to know about bowling is that almost all of the shots you will do as a fast bowler depend completely upon your arm!
The faster you can spin the ball, the higher the bounce it will achieve, and thus the farther it will go. Therefore, how quickly you are able to get the ball spinning is very significant in determining how successful you will be.
When you are throwing the ball, try keeping time frames in mind. You want to have controlled, quick motions. Ideally, you want to be thinking about throwing the ball before you feel yourself getting tense.
Most people lose their form when they start trying to throw the ball as hard as they could possibly make it. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but if you would like to improve your game then you need to find ways to relax and control your throws.
Practice good relaxation skills and learn how to manage your emotions so that you don’t interfere with your performance.
Reaching back
A fast bowler needs to be able to reach back with his or her hand and arm to create enough momentum to deliver the ball. This is one of the most fundamental skills for bowlers. Most professional cricketers have a natural ability to do this, but it can be trained!
Practice reaching back every time you throw the ball as hard as possible. Try doing it slowly first, then faster, and finally as quickly as possible. When practicing your bowling, make sure you’re keeping an eye on the ball, watching how far forward your hands move and whether your feet are moving in a circular motion.
Some great examples of powerful bowlers that use their arms effectively are Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. Both men had incredible spin bowls and were very skilled at using their hands and arms.
Arm action
When bowling, there is an easy way to become faster. Simply stand with your feet wider than shoulder width apart and stick your arms out like you are throwing a ball as fast as possible.
This isn’t very comfortable though so don’t do it too much! Only practice this trick once or twice a week at most. But don’t forget to work off the balls of your shoes!
Your knees will be bent slightly and your legs will be able to move more easily if you use your leg muscles instead of your hips. This helps you activate your thigh muscle groups which can help propel you forward when bowling.
You can also try using momentum rather than energy when bowling. As you throw the ball, focus less on lifting the ball up and letting gravity take over, and more on pushing yourself backwards and getting some power from your legs.
Keep a steady rhythm and relax your body and mind as you bowl. You want to feel relaxed while still putting in the effort needed to be successful.
Overall, remember that your goal should not only be to go as quickly as you can but also to have fun doing it! Have an eye on the target and keep an upright position, even as you dive for a ball.
Follow through
One of the most fundamental things to know about fast bowling is how to follow through with your ball. When you run out of time before an over, it’s very difficult to get away with not doing anything but throwing the ball straight up in the air.
That won’t work when you are trying to bowl a fast bowler-the best bowlers will look like they are moving while tossing the ball. They move their hands, feet or both as they release the cricket ball.
When you have less than two minutes left for an over, staying still will only make it take longer! You want to be able to quickly pick back up where you left off after the last ball so you don’t waste any momentum.
Planning ahead and being aware of how much time you have can help prevent you from wasting shots.
Practice makes perfect
Most fast bowling strategies are simply practice routines that can be done in your off time to improve your game. As mentioned before, timing is important for a fast bowler so practicing your delivery will help you get better at it.
Practicing with a ball machine or using a rebounder plate is great way to do this as you don’t have to worry about how hard you push down when throwing.
Timing also plays an integral part in what kind of style of bowling you aspire to play. A slower-paced bowling style requires you to leave more time between each throw, while faster bowlers must learn to wait less time after releasing the ball.
The final key element in being a successful fast bowler is having good balance. More powerful leg spinners need to work on developing their wrist action, whereas heavier overhand swingers should work to develop strength in their arms and shoulders.
