The column of uncertainty - Sreesanth

[Chandan]

Can MSB write his own blogs in the bog section? He can dedicate it to the 'art of fast bowling'. Can Dhondy and Ravi clarify this, if he can get his own blog or not? And I have a question MSB. If SS doesn't use his wrist and bowls just with his fingers, how is the seam so upright that it doesn't change even after pitching? And how does he get that lovely late outswinger?

[Tapioca]

:two_thumbs_up:

[MundaPakistani]

Excellent read! Can you do an analysis of M Sami's action?:P 1 Question If he stops floating the ball wouldn't that take away his ability to swing the ball?

[Dhondy]

Can MSB write his own blogs in the bog section? He can dedicate it to the 'art of fast bowling'. Can Dhondy and Ravi clarify this, if he can get his own blog or not?

Yes, the blog facility is open to all. I'd encourage msb to start a blog, but to put material that's different from the one he posts on the forums. And you should start a blog as well, Chandan.

[msb1991]

@msb hmm seems like he's done some or a lot of work at Essex CC' date=' I know a few people who play for Essex or were looking to join, I'll ask them about him[/quote'] I'd be interested in what they say. I'm saving up for a one-on-one session with him but at £150, I have to find out if it is worth it.

What a brilliant write up! Till now msb had shown through his shorter posts that he knows a thing or two about fast bowling but here he has gone completely unbridled and written with so much freedom and lucidness, not to be confined by some subject under discussion. An extremely enlightening piece. Do you think Sreesanth will be more effective if he starts using the crease more effectively ie. develop some kind of an incoming delivery from wide of the crease a bit like Ntini or is his action and approach just not suited to that style? If it's okay with you maybe we can move this piece along with the Anderson one to the articles section after it has been discussed for a couple of days?

You can move it if you wish. I think he can develop a delivery from wide of the cease or wherever, but doesn't need to do so with the massive frequency which he does currently and needs to hone the stock ball first, anyway.

And I have a question MSB. If SS doesn't use his wrist and bowls just with his fingers' date=' how is the seam so upright that it doesn't change even after pitching? And how does he get that lovely late outswinger?[/quote'] I am going to be honest, that was a shaky part of the article as it is something which is impossible to explain correctly. I wrote this article a little while ago and have since realised that I should discredit that part of the article as it is not solid theory.

[King]

Excellent post MSB. Few things I reckon needs to be pointed here. As for biomechanics of fast bowling goes, to be able to get the bowling shoulder and hips through there should be enough chest drive. Every fast bowler there is out there uses fantastic chest drive. Similarly the head has to be still and follow through along with the chest. Head is one of the heaviest part of the body and that leading with the chest also leading towards the trajectory of the ball creates the shoulder, bowling arm and hip drive. Again here it has to be stated the bowling is all about contraction and expansion of bowling muscles. If you expand too early then the bowling muscles expansion viz the shuolder, the chest and the arm (includes biceps and the triceps) that needs to happen at the time of delivery will not be efficient. Bowling fast can be achieved by expanding these muscles when the bowler takes a leap. It may sound strange but the recent studies has show slowing down the action or holding the action at the time of leap adds to the pace of the ball. Also the bowling arm extending backwards as far as possible creates that much needed expansion. You can notice that in the bowlers you have mentioned above, one is Waqar and the other Shoaib Akthar.You can notice that kind of expansion in Bondy, Malinga and Lee as well. No wonder all of the mentioned bowlers were and are quick. Sreesanth's release is not flawed. It is fantastic in fact. He locks the wrist in position and along with a good grip on the ball he delivers a perfect seam with no wobble whatsoever. Unfortunately he goes for runs at times because he looks for the swing when there is none. This is where it is so important to be able to hit the deck hard at times. In Indian conditions when there is no swing out there, hitting the deck will come in really handy. Unfortunately Sreesanth lacks that option currently as he constantly looks for swing and when there is none, faster he bowls easier it gets for the batsmen to score off him as the ball comes on quite nicely. This is why swing bowling can be at times unforgiving. You are definitely right with regards to the left side or the non bowling side of the action should pull away quickly at the delivery time as it will get the bowlers to complete the action quickly enough and it allows the bowlers to get off the crease quickly leading the body moment to head towards where the ball is bowled. My few cents on this one.

[King]

What a brilliant write up! Till now msb had shown through his shorter posts that he knows a thing or two about fast bowling but here he has gone completely unbridled and written with so much freedom and lucidness, not to be confined by some subject under discussion. An extremely enlightening piece. Do you think Sreesanth will be more effective if he starts using the crease more effectively ie. develop some kind of an incoming delivery from wide of the crease a bit like Ntini or is his action and approach just not suited to that style? If it's okay with you maybe we can move this piece along with the Anderson one to the articles section after it has been discussed for a couple of days? However, relying on a run up for your pace can, and does in Sreesanth's case, result in a drop in pace as the bowler tires throughout a spell or fatigues throughout a match, series or tournament.

I think he can develop a delivery from wide of the cease or wherever, but doesn't need to do so with the massive frequency which he does currently and needs to hone the stock ball first, anyway.

The studies currently show that any outward or inward movement at the crease rather than running in straight lines in fact affects the pace. Bowling run up, delivery and follow through in a straight line not only allows the bowler to bowl quick but also makes them accurate. Think of a flight taking off, you never quite see a flight taking off in an angle do you? The flights line up in a straight line and with full engine propellers behind it, takes off in straight lines. You could also picture a Cheetah chasing an antelope, it has to slow down when it needs to turn but when running in straight lines it runs as quickly as it can with complete focus. Another reason why you would want to run in straight lines is that the head needs to be very still. When you take a leap towards wide off the crease, because the head is one of the heaviest part of the body, the momentum is lost and the tendency of the body will be to fall over to the side rather than head towards where you would rather like to bowl.

[msb1991]

Excellent post MSB. Few things I reckon needs to be pointed here. As for biomechanics of fast bowling goes, to be able to get the bowling shoulder and hips through there should be enough chest drive. Every fast bowler there is out there uses fantastic chest drive. Similarly the head has to be still and follow through along with the chest. Head is one of the heaviest part of the body and that leading with the chest also leading towards the trajectory of the ball creates the shoulder, bowling arm and hip drive. Again here it has to be stated the bowling is all about contraction and expansion of bowling muscles. If you expand too early then the bowling muscles expansion viz the shuolder, the chest and the arm (includes biceps and the triceps) that needs to happen at the time of delivery will not be efficient. Bowling fast can be achieved by expanding these muscles when the bowler takes a leap. It may sound strange but the recent studies has show slowing down the action or holding the action at the time of leap adds to the pace of the ball. Also the bowling arm extending backwards as far as possible creates that much needed expansion. You can notice that in the bowlers you have mentioned above, one is Waqar and the other Shoaib Akthar.You can notice that kind of expansion in Bondy, Malinga and Lee as well. No wonder all of the mentioned bowlers were and are quick. Sreesanth's release is not flawed. It is fantastic in fact. He locks the wrist in position and along with a good grip on the ball he delivers a perfect seam with no wobble whatsoever. Unfortunately he goes for runs at times because he looks for the swing when there is none. This is where it is so important to be able to hit the deck hard at times. In Indian conditions when there is no swing out there, hitting the deck will come in really handy. Unfortunately Sreesanth lacks that option currently as he constantly looks for swing and when there is none, faster he bowls easier it gets for the batsmen to score off him as the ball comes on quite nicely. This is why swing bowling can be at times unforgiving. You are definitely right with regards to the left side or the non bowling side of the action should pull away quickly at the delivery time as it will get the bowlers to complete the action quickly enough and it allows the bowlers to get off the crease quickly leading the body moment to head towards where the ball is bowled. My few cents on this one.

I'd be interested (very) to see these studies. Moreover, would you be interested in helping me out with this series of articles? I've already discredited my comment about the release. Interesting notes on chest drive as I have just been working on this at the nets recently and I think it is somethingthat Sreesanth may lack. Your comment about arm pull, signalling Waqar as the example, is a very good one. He is certainly the standout and this is probably why he has such an effective full ball, creating a great distance between the arms as here:

[King]

I'd be interested (very) to see these studies. Moreover, would you be interested in helping me out with this series of articles? I've already discredited my comment about the release. Interesting notes on chest drive as I have just been working on this at the nets recently and I think it is somethingthat Sreesanth may lack. Your comment about arm pull, signalling Waqar as the example, is a very good one. He is certainly the standout and this is probably why he has such an effective full ball, creating a great distance between the arms as here:

Thanks for posting that photo of Waqar MSB, I'll print that and show it to the lads I work with. They will now have a better idea of what we mean by expansion of bowling muscles. The findings I'm talking about is not on the WWW but is privy to the local cricket academy. I don't know if I'm allowed to share these pdfs and videos but let me see if I can some way get it through to you. You are doing an excellent job on the articles, just carry on. It'll be great to have discussions with you in your articles. It can be a good learning experience for both of us.

[The Outsider]

The studies currently show that any outward or inward movement at the crease rather than running in straight lines in fact affects the pace. Bowling run up, delivery and follow through in a straight line not only allows the bowler to bowl quick but also makes them accurate. Think of a flight taking off, you never quite see a flight taking off in an angle do you? The flights line up in a straight line and with full engine propellers behind it, takes off in straight lines. You could also picture a Cheetah chasing an antelope, it has to slow down when it needs to turn but when running in straight lines it runs as quickly as it can with complete focus. Another reason why you would want to run in straight lines is that the head needs to be very still. When you take a leap towards wide off the crease, because the head is one of the heaviest part of the body, the momentum is lost and the tendency of the body will be to fall over to the side rather than head towards where you would rather like to bowl.

Ravi, I am sure you remember Imran Khan's run up and game. He used to do something what you are describing above when he was looking for that really big inswinger- run in normally and just before the delivery stride take half a step away from the stumps. Kumble does that occasionally these days, albeit he is a spinner. I am not disputing the biomechanics and practical scenarios that you have described above just pointing out two examples of bowlers who tend to defy this conventional reasoning.

[Ian Pont]

MSB1991...it's always worthwhile having that session with me. What my book, The Fast Bowler's Bible DOESN'T show are the drills to go with the skills. That's the bit you learn when you see me..... ... but only come if you want to bowl faster & straighter. Best wishes Ian

[msb1991]

I've already started booking the session, it should be completed by the time India wrap up the series at Delhi.

[Cricketics]

Some crazy effort needs to be really appreciated and hence I bump this 3 year old thread. Great work from MSB here. Since the seriesi s starting against England. It's in article, but I am movin it to cricket talk for few days

[saneindian]

Amazing read!! Thoroughly enjoyed it. Congrats MSB. Wish you had written about other Indian pacers as well.

[Sooda]

wow, I have not read this before. Its awesome. msb, yes please expand this for other pacers, and also Sree himself- has his action changed much over the years?

[Cricketics]

Sooda. He did one of thos on James anderson too. Let me bump that as well and move it here.

[Yoda-esque]

Great analysis..I guess its the lack of wrist power due to which Sree does not ball a "heavy" ball

[msb1991]

I'm working off logic and what I have read. I have no qualifications whatsoever so take the articles with a pinch of salt. They are just what I have observed and what I think. However, I would say Sreesanth does not bowl a heavy ball because his release is, more often than not, pretty soft. I think Sreesanth does not understand the timing of his action which is why his speed fluctuates more than most. It does not seem intentional like Dale Steyn, who sometimes drops his pace intentionally for swing and control.

[ahilya]

wrt to sreeshant MSD dont Play him coz of his on field aggressive behavior. MSD has to understand one thing even if sreeshant's aggression is fake or clownish its his main strength.MSD should not control sreeshant but he has to unleash him.

[Fontaine]

wrt to sreeshant MSD dont Play him coz of his on field aggressive behavior. MSD has to understand one thing even if sreeshant's aggression is fake or clownish its his main strength.MSD should not control sreeshant but he has to unleash him.

No that's wrong. The only column of uncertainty with Sreesanth is the gap between his ears.