What makes Bhuvneshwar a threat?

[rkt.india]

If you were to make an assessment about a fast bowler, from a distance, what are the attributes that are likely to catch your eye? The first few would be a fast run-up, high jump, strong action, pace and bounce. But those are exactly the ones you won't find in India's best strike bowler at the moment, for he doesn't run too fast and gives the impression of just ambling in. His feet barely leave the ground while loading up for the action, and since most of the times batsmen are on the front foot, it gives the impression of lack of pace. The wicketkeeper rarely collects his deliveries with the fingers pointing up, so even the bounce isn't appreciable. Prima facie, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has no quality that's likely to catch a layman's fancy. But to know his real worth, you need to stand at the other end with a bat in your hand. That's when you realise how one of the most innocuous looking bowler is also one of the toughest to handle, especially if he has a new ball and the pitch has a little bit of assistance for seamers. So what makes Bhuvneshwar a serious threat? Bowling close to the stumps and high arm action Bhuvneshwar's approach to the crease reminds me of the great Shaun Pollock, for just like the South African, he also gets really close to the stumps. The closer the bowler gets to the stumps, the tougher it gets for the batsman, for there are literally no angles to play around with. The line of delivery is always in line with the stumps and hence the batsman has no choice but to play at most of the deliveries. And if the positioning on the crease is complemented with a high-arm action, like it is for Bhuvneshwar, the problem increases manifold. Now, you, as a batsman, can't play inside or outside the line of the delivery as you would for someone bowling with a round-arm action or from wide of the crease. For example, if Malinga was bowling from close to the stumps with a new ball, a right handed batsman would play outside the line of the ball assuming that the ball would swing away from him. Similarly, right-handed batsmen played inside the line while facing Makhaya Ntini accounting for the acute angle he created by bowling from the edge of the box. Strong wrist position The best way to swing the ball in the air and to get lateral movement off the deck is to release the ball with the seam bolt upright. The still the seam is in the air, the better the chances of it not only deviating in the air but also hitting the pitch on the seam and hence darting around. While it sounds quite simple in theory, it's extremely difficult to execute in practice, for to keep the seam upright at the point of release; the wrist needs to be really strong and also right behind the ball. That's exactly what Bhuvneshwar achieves and hence makes the ball talk. His immense control on his wrist allows him to not only release the ball with the seam upright but also enables him to make subtle changes (like pointing it towards slips or fine-leg) by tilting his wrist to move the ball both ways. If you're able to do that with control, you'd trouble the best batsmen. Pitch it fuller Bhuvneshwar neither has the pace of Umesh Yadav nor does he have the bounce of Ishant Sharma and hence he's understood the importance of hitting the right length time and again. He realises that since his strength is movement, he needs to pitch it a lot fuller, for the longer the ball stays in the air, the better the chances of it moving. Also, it's the length batsman, especially the openers, hate in the early part of the innings. He's not afraid of being hit through the line and that quality allows him to find edges so often, for it isn't possible to keep hitting in the middle when the ball is swinging. While the match between the West Indies and India is most likely to be remembered for Kohli's scintillating century, not mentioning the spell of quality bowling by Bhuvneshwar would be grave injustice, for Gayle, Bravo and Pollard--the batsmen he dismissed, had the ability of changing the complexion and, perhaps, the result of the match.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/tri-nation-west-indies-2013/content/story/648203.html

[G_B_]

He is a Philander like bowler with good temperament.

[KeyboardWarrior]

give him patta wkts, thn we will think :hmmm:

[BleedBlue]

It will be interresting to see how he does in SA

[philcric]

If only Zak was fit and in form (Zak of 2008-2011), we would have had a decent chance in SA with Zak-Umesh-Bhuvi.

[vvvslaxman]

Best thing i like about him is he doesn't go overboard with celebrations after a wicket. Infact he hardly celebrates. He is our Dhoni in bowling department. Ultracool.

[Number]

nothing.

[adi B]

Best thing i like about him is he doesn't go overboard with celebrations after a wicket. Infact he hardly celebrates. He is our Dhoni in bowling department. Ultracool.

yeah didnt have much reaction after getting gayle out,he reacted as if its normal for him

[Lord]

Best thing i like about him is he doesn't go overboard with celebrations after a wicket. Infact he hardly celebrates. He is our Dhoni in bowling department. Ultracool.

I used to think same of PK when he came in CB.but then realised hes anything but cool:giggle:

[adi B]

I used to think same of PK when he came in CB.but then realised hes anything but cool:giggle:

exactly my thoughts,especially when he bowled lee in the finals :cantstop:

[cowboysfan]

Pk does not have the control of bhuvi,thats why he gets thrashed in odis.

[Lord]

Pk does not have the control of bhuvi' date='thats why he gets thrashed in odis.[/quote'] PK generally gets thrashed in slog overs with old ball,with new ball hes as good BK doesnt bowl with old ball that much

[vvvslaxman]

I used to think same of PK when he came in CB.but then realised hes anything but cool:giggle:

PK was known for confrontations though. Bhuvan has so far looked grounded. Let us wait and see. Munaf, Nehra, Sreesanth have all acted like clowns in their career. Umesh , Bhuvan, Ishant.. these three don't get carried away on the field.

[Rocky Balboa]

I am glad to hear that he s been rested for Zimb tour. He looks awfully tired. I remember him clocking 135+ in ipl matches and he has slowed down considerbaly since then. Hopefully this break helps him to regain his strength and bowl 135+ again. Pace plus swing would make a deadly combo.