Steve Finn-amazing turn around

[rkt.india]

I first saw Steve Finn in Un19 WC in 2008 but never thought he could at that pace in time to come. A 19 year old guy who had only one thing stand out about him at that time was his height of 6'7-8". He was barely impressive and looked very ordinary. I remember the most impressive bowlers in that WC were Tim Southee who has progressed very well as a bowler after that, Wayne Parnell who to has progressed since then, Aadil Raza from Pakistan, and Pradeep Sangwan from India. Look at where Pradeep Sangwan is in comparison to Southee, Parnell, and Finn. Sangwan is static while others have grown well. Even Alan Wilkins talked about Steve Finn and how he bowled in that 2008 U19 WC in Malasiya. He was slow and did not even have any stamina to bowl more than 3-4 overs on the trot, but here comes 3 odd years later at the age of 22, he was clocking 150K consistently and was looking quick, but unfortunate to not get many wickets, as on any other day could easily have picked 3-4 wickets. But the most important thing is whom to credit of his progress from a barely a medium fast bowler to a genuinely quick bowler in 3 years. We have same kind of a bowler in Jaydev Unadkat who was impressive in U19 WC last year bowling over 85 mph, but can he gain a yard or two of pace in coming 3 years like Finn gained. I must admit this is a result of strength and conditioning program of ECB which helps these guys gaining that kind of a pace. These guys, around age 20-24, spend one month every year at ECB strength and conditioning academy away from any cricketing activity. They concentrate only on body strengthening. It is not like they are building body, like wrestlers. They work on the muscles used in bowling and their stamina. Those muscles are worked upon to make them strong and flexible and fast. There is no cricket in that one month. Don't know when BCCI would start this kind of program where potential and emerging fast bowlers are working together with this kind of a program. ECB has actually shown that a bowler don't need to be quick from under age to become a quick bowler, but coaches want ready-made product as we read what Karsan Ghavri said in an article about fast bowlers that he has not seen any upcoming bowler of age between 17-19 bowling 140K in the academy. Even Finn at the age of 19 was not bowling 140, while now 3 years later, he is genuinely quick. Case of Sangwan is similar. I am sure if Pradeep Sangwan was in England, he would have progressed quite a lot, but as he is in India, there is not much support a fast bowler can get here.

[Chandan]

Can we get any online info about that academy?

[rkt.india]

Can we get any online info about that academy?

Last year after test matches in June, Finn did not play ODI series and instead was sent to strengthening program for one month. Stuard Broad also has gone through this program after ashes in 2009. England commentator usually talk about this program. I found this on google. http://www.ecb.co.uk/ecb/national-cricket-performance-centre-loughborough/the-ecb-strength-conditioning-team,2106,BP.html http://www.ecb.co.uk/ecb/national-cricket-performance-centre-loughborough/fast-bowling-and-spin-programmes,1724,BP.html

[Cricket Tragic]

I just read the discussion on the other thread about speed guns. I'm not sure about that but Finn looked really sharp yesterday. His development over the past couple of years has been very impressive.

[rkt.india]

when i 1st saw finn it was in 2007 and his top speed was about 142 range , last year against pak he clocked 147 and now 152 it is a steady progress , always good to see good quick bowlers no matter from which country i think they along with good fielders are the most exciting cricketers to watch. as far as the academy it is used mainly in off season conditioning , the county academies also play a role in that along with the main academy . i see even rookie county players training like professional int players , this helps in building a professional atmosphere and adds good depth

Was it 2007 or 2009?

[rkt.india]

I just read the discussion on the other thread about speed guns. I'm not sure about that but Finn looked really sharp yesterday. His development over the past couple of years has been very impressive.

yeah..I dont understand when people say speed guns were right. How can speed guns be wrong for only one bowler? I have heard this argument many times.

[gaurav92]

yeah..I dont understand when people say speed guns were right. How can speed guns be wrong for only one bowler? I have heard this argument many times.

Huh? When did I say its wrong only for Finn, RP and Munna were clocking 138-140 kph consistently too which I found very strange

[gaurav92]

May be its true, but Finn didn't look like we was bowling 148ish. The batsman played him without much trouble, may be it was because of the slowness of the track :dontknow:

[CricketGirl]

Finny's our local hero he's the english cricketer that most of our boys look up to even as a person he's fantastic! Great with the kids and he's always full of positive advice for the kids who aspire to being cricket players! These academy's are more than just strength and conditioning they are about strategy and mental prep too! Hopefully sending junior to one soon!

[Cricket Tragic]

Finny's our local hero he's the english cricketer that most of our boys look up to even as a person he's fantastic! Great with the kids and he's always full of positive advice for the kids who aspire to being cricket players! These academy's are more than just strength and conditioning they are about strategy and mental prep too! Hopefully sending junior to one soon!

That is true. Here is a picture I look at Lord's this summer.

[Cricket Tragic]

You haven't seen Sourav Ganguly's kit. I was at a practice session in 2002 and the guy arrived with 5 large bags/coffins for a net session. Two of those were only for his bats and there must have been about 15-20 bats in there.

[rkt.india]

Huh? When did I say its wrong only for Finn' date=' RP and Munna were clocking 138-140 kph consistently too which I found very strange[/quote'] RP certainly bowled fast up 138 which is a decent pace in first 2-3 overs but he was back to his normal 80 mph later. Same is Munna can bowl mid to high 80s if he wants but he is contend with line and length. He has wasted his talent by only line and length. Munna did bowl 140 even in test in WI. RP's deliveries were carrying very well and has improved since oval test. You don't need to see speed guns to see what is the pace actually. RP and Munna both bowled a few deliveries at 138 or so, not all, they wre normally in 130-134 range while Munna was bowling so many slower ones around 120K as well.

[rkt.india]

it was 2007 he was playing for middlesex there was another bowler called robbie williams (not the singer) who was also similar pace to finn & they were the two upcoming pacers for middlesex back then

But I dont think he was 140 back then. Even in U19 wc 2008 , he was just medium fast, did not look quick at all.

[express bowling]

I must admit this is a result of strength and conditioning program of ECB which helps these guys gaining that kind of a pace. These guys, around age 20-24, spend one month every year at ECB strength and conditioning academy away from any cricketing activity. They concentrate only on body strengthening. It is not like they are building body, like wrestlers. They work on the muscles used in bowling and their stamina. Those muscles are worked upon to make them strong and flexible and fast. There is no cricket in that one month. .

These abilities/ qualities are really some of the key things that are required for fast bowling and can be developed along with the bowlers' run-up. The curious and highly impressive case of Steve Finn needs to be studied and the BCCI needs to set up a similar or even improved program to increase / maintain the pace of our seamers.

[rkt.india]

May be its true' date=' but Finn didn't look like we was bowling 148ish. The batsman played him without much trouble, may be it was because of the slowness of the track :dontknow:[/quote'] Finn is a tall bowler, tall bowlers normally dont look that quick because the ball comes from a height but they get bounce, while short bowler will look quick even 140, like Malinga who has very low trajectory looks so quick even at 140 while Munaf or Ishant hit 140 does not look quick to eyes.

[CG]

Finn is a tall bowler' date=' tall bowlers normally dont look that quick because the ball comes from a height but they get bounce, while short bowler will look quick even 140, like Malinga who has very low trajectory looks so quick even at 140 while Munaf or Ishant hit 140 does not look quick to eyes.[/quote'] No i disagree when ishant or morkel or tall bowlers bowl over 138km/h they look faster to eyes than regular bowlers as there is less reduction in pace after hitting the pitch.I have seen him bowl 140+ in one day in aus and he touched 150km/h there,so i am not surprised but yesterday speed guns were inaccurate i am sure and when he plays next he will be back to 130.

[speed_demon]

He looked quick no doubt about it. But to me it was not speed through the air, but of the wicket that generated more speed, which indicates, the guy was bowling in fantastic rhythm and hit the deck hard, and due to the height, the ball flew.

[TheYuvi02]

Met him in London and got him to sign a bat, nice guy but he is extremely tall

[Crookbond]

Speed Guns are unreliable folks. It's not about the bowler but the type of deliveries on which it's reliability lies. Coming back to the point, he's in good hands under the mentor-ship (and good friend) Angus Fraser.

[rkt.india]

No i disagree when ishant or morkel or tall bowlers bowl over 138km/h they look faster to eyes than regular bowlers as there is less reduction in pace afetr hittingthe pitch.

No I disagree..compare and see them at same speeds with Malinga and Edwards and you will find the difference. Short bowlers look quicker to eyes because of low trajectory and less distance to cover for the ball. A ball has to cover less distance when a short bowler at 5'10" delivers a fuller length ball while ball will have to travel more distance when a bowl at 6'6" delivers it at fuller length. Ball will cover short distance in quick time and bowl will look quicker while a tall bowler will loose less pace of the pitch when pitched short of length and will be quicker when facing the ball as it will lose less pace after pitching in comparison to a short bowler who will have to pitch it too short. It depends on the distance ball has to travel between the bowlers hand at the time of release and to the batsman. The distance will be longer when a tall bowler delivers in comparison to a short bowler. Short bowlers mainly have more effective full length deliveries because they are deceptively quicker, while tall bowlers will have more effective short balls because they will be pitched further and will have extra bounce.