Fastest Cricket Bowl In Cricket History
Anyone who’s watched or played cricket knows that fast bowling is an important
action in the game. There’s nothing as exciting as seeing a fast bowler sprinting
towards the batsmen and bowling them out.
Perhaps you’re reading this article and are wondering what fast bowling is.
Also known as pace bowling, fast-bowling is the action of throwing the ball toward
the wicket protected by a batsman. The fastest cricket bowl takes so much skill to
pull off. Hence, fast bowlers are significant assets in their team.
Bowlers can also be seasoned batsmen and in such a scenario, they are referred to
as all-rounders.
Bowlers depend on speed to get the batsman out. They use the ball’s speed as an
advantage against the batsman, thus deceiving them, leading to the batsman getting
out or playing a poor shot.
There are four main types of bowlers:
- Swing and seam bowlers.
- Spin bowlers.
- Fast bowlers.
- Slow bowlers.
There’s More to Fast Bowling
Throwing the ball fast doesn’t automatically make one a fast bowler. There’s a
specific manner you should hold and throw the ball.
Fast bowlers who’ve managed the fastest cricket bowl hold the ball with the seam
vertical, aligned down the pitch, and deliver it so the ball spins to keep the seam
upright as it glides through the air.
The ball speed ranges between 130-150 km/hr. Other types of fast bowlers called
medium-paced bowlers use the fast bowling style, but they bowl much slower. The
ball speed for a medium-pace bowl ranges between 110-130 km/hr.
Techniques Used in Fast Bowling
Swing- This is a technique where the fast bowler makes the ball curve while it’s in
the air by aligning the ball’s seam to point slightly towards the right or left. There
are three categories of the swing strategy: reverse swing, out swinger, and in
swinger.
Beamer- The beamer is often considered illegal as it’s hazardous. It makes it
through without bounces and passes above the batsman’s waist height directly. It
often leads to a free hit or no-ball.
Knuckle-ball- In it, the ball isn’t thrown with the knuckles but by use of
fingernails. This eliminates spin from the ball. Some bowlers hold the ball using
the tip of the fingernail.
Cutter- There are two types of cutters: Off cutter and leg cutter. With the cutter
technique, the fast bowler rotates the ball sideways in his hand as he lets it go by
dragging his fingers down either to the right or to the left side.
Yorker- Here, the ball lands on the pitch at the popping crease. This makes it hard
for the batsman to guard it with the usual batting posture.
Seam- The fast bowler raises the ball’s seam a bit, causing the ball to deviate
sideways when it bounces on the pitch.
Slower ball- This tricky technique causes the batsman to act too fast. Thus, they
end up getting out with an easy catch or missing the ball.
Bouncer- The bouncer is a short-pitched delivery from the bowler, which causes
the ball to rise close to the batsman’s head. As the ball bounces off the pitch near
the bowler, it creates more time for the bounce to climb high before reaching the
batsman.
Fastest Cricket Bowl Pointers
Attaining the fastest cricket bowl is not as difficult as most people think. If you’re
looking to bowl like an expert, here are some tips you can use:
1. Keep Your Body Flexible
Nothing good comes easy. That goes for fast bowling too as it puts tremendous
stress on the body. A key way to protect yourself from injuries is by maintaining
your flexibility and stretching.
To be more specific, work on keeping your lower body flexible. Stretch the calves,
hamstrings, quads, and groin regions.
2. Practice Makes Perfect
One of the best ways to achieve the fastest cricket bowl is through constant
practice. Ensure that you practice your bowling for one hour tops per week in the
cricket season.
If you can, get several practice days in every week. Find a place you can practice at
home and if you’re in one, your cricket club.
Pro tip: Please don’t bowl too much. For one week, for instance, you shouldn’t
bowl for four days in a row.
3. Take Part in Strength Training
Aside from keeping your body flexible, you should strive to keep it strong. This
not only improves your ability to avoid injuries but helps you bowl quicker for a
longer duration too.
If possible, it helps to get a gym membership and work on the body areas we’ve
mentioned in tip 1. Or work out at home! Perform exercises such as lunges, squats,
rotational medicine ball throws, leg extensions, and floor sliding mountain
climbers.
4. Grip is Everything
The right grip is crucial as it determines how the ball will leave your hand. There
are various grips that every fast bowler should learn and perfect, though the main
one is the basic fast bowling grip.
This grip needs you to place your middle and index fingers on either side of the
seam. The seam should run parallel with both fingers. Your thumb should be under
the ball, either to the side of the seam or on it. As for your pinkie and ring finger,
they should be bent and used for support on the outside of the ball.
5. Work on Your Bowling Speed
More speed intimidates batsmen and causes them to think faster, to your
advantage. A key way you can bowl quicker is by using your front arm more
effectively.
Train yourself to pull your front arm down towards the ground more forcefully,
then the arm you use to bowl will spin quicker, causing the ball to leave your hand
at a quicker speed.
Also, please don’t pull your front arm down too soon. The longer you keep it up,
the more in line it will be with the spinning of the bowling arm.
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