BOWLING : Why are bowlers not getting faster?

Fast bowling is the only area in sport that is not getting better.

 

Usain Bold smashed the world 100m record and while waving and almost moonwalking across the line. Marathon runners are closing in on a sub-two hour mark. 

 

We are faster, higher and stronger.

 

But where are the truly fast bowlers?

 

Despite obvious improvements in batting and fielding, fast bowling lags behind. Bowler's are stronger than ever thanks to advanced training techniques but they don't turn that into raw pace. 

 

The fact is, bowling has made few strides forward in the last 70 years.

 

And the only people to blame is coaches.

 

“Slow down and hit your areas”

 

I don't know for sure, but I bet Usain Bolt's coach never told him to slow down.

 

Why would he? The 100m is a dash to the line. As long as you stay in lane you are golden.

 

But coaches all over the world tell fast bowler's to do it.

 

The difference is that bowlers need to take accuracy into account. And most coaches thinks that you can either be fast and wild or medium paced and accurate.

 

So they tell you to slow down.

 

So those with the ability to bowl fast are happy to cut the speed down in order to be more accurate. The classic 'Glenn McGrath'.

 

Speed kills

 

But this approach is poor because bowlers are paid to get wickets and one of the best ways to get wickets is to bowl really, really quick. 

 

Speed kills the hopes of batsman.

 

Of course, speed without accuracy is useless, but to paraphrase Ian Pont: the two are complimentary, not exclusive.

 

It's quite possible to bowl at your maximum potential speed and still hit the right length.

 

Yet us coaches keep up the 'slow down' mantra and bowler's don't move on.

 

But it can be different. We can be more like sprinting, jumping, batting, fielding and just about everything else in the field of human performance.

 

We just need to get over the idea that speed is a bad thing.

 

Because despite saying otherwise, that's what we think.

 

Don't believe it? Go to any club nets and listen to the coaches. It won't be long until you hear someone being told to slow down.

 

And the solution is as simple as the problem.

 

Coaches must tell bowler's to bowl as fast as they can.

 

Coaches must coach the right ways to bowl fast and accurately at the same time.