Head Position
This shows a delivery side on. The head position of this player is kept facing the target, straight and steady at all times. Focusing on the target will provide the following things:
- The delivery will ultimately go where targeted at
- No possible injuries to the neck; any sudden jerks will stretch the neck muscles and sometimes will result in strains and tears
- It will help in the momentum and balance in the delivery stride
Speed of Shoulder Rotations
If a player wants to bowl quickly, the main aspects of bowling quickly is 1. The speed of which the shoulder rotates and 2. An explosive action.
Shoaib Ahktar, for example, has both of these and bowls with tremendous pace, the rotations of his shoulder allow him to exceed speeds of over 9Omph each delivery.
Ability to bowl for extended periods of time
In this scorecard of a 1938 Test Match, M G Waite, a single bowler bowls 72 overs. In doing this requires massive Cardiovascular Endurance, Stamina and Motivation. Two other bowlers bowled over 8O between them, but these bowlers were spinners. M G Waite was most likely to be a seam bowler so this type of bowler must be prepared for extensive bowling, including breaks at intervals though.
Speed of the run up
Fast bowlers such as Dennis Lillie and Michael Holding all ball with outstanding pace and to do this they must have a source: The Run Up. Both these bowlers have unusually long run ups, Dennis Lillie’s at 47 paces and Michael Holding’s at 5O. Cardiovascular Endurance and Stamina play a big part in maintaining there pace and consistency
The run up of these bowlers should be Smooth, Balanced, Economical, Rhythmic and Consistent.
- Small steps initially; led to larger strides
- The body ‘leans’ forward
- The arms stay close to the body
- The hands remain in motion, carried above the waistband and the within the width of the trunk
- The head remains steady, with the eyes fixed on the target.
