This book is aimed at players and coaches (male & female) of all levels. James Knott and Andrew O’Connor have created a comprehensive and up to date guide to bowling for coaches, players and parents featuring photographs and diagrams along with sixty accessible drills.

This is an essential guide to the intricate skills required to become a successful bowler for both players and coaches. With input from a wide range of elite players and coaches, past and present, this is an invaluable guide to developing bowling skills for young and old alike.

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Foreword by Darren Gough
• Foreword by Saqlain Mushtaq
• Introduction
• One: The Basics
  • What is a Bowler?
  • The Grip
  • The Gather
  • Completing the Action
  • When to Release the Ball – the Timing of Release
  • The Bound
  • The Run-Up
  • The Follow-Through
  • Front-Arm Variations
  • Midway and Front-On Bowling Actions
• Two: Seam and Swing Bowling
  • Outswing
  • Inswing
  • Varying the Amount of Swing
  • Wrist Flick
  • Shining the Ball
  • Reverse Swing
  • Changing the Ball
  • Seaming and Cutting the Ball
  • Wobble Seam
  • Cross Seam
  • Use of Crease and Bowling to Left-Handed Batters
  • Slower Balls
  • Off Cutter Slower Ball
  • Leg Cutter Slower Ball
  • Split Finger
  • Knuckle Ball
  • Back of the Hand Slower Ball
  • Bowling the Bouncer
  • Bowling with Purpose and Adding Pace
  • Picking the Right Ball
• Three: Off Spin Bowling
  • The Grip
  • The Action
  • The Front Arm
  • The Run-Up or Approach to the Wicket
  • Completion
  • Where to Look and How to Respond
  • Bowling with Purpose and Spinning the Ball Hard
  • Variations
  • Bowling to Left-Handers and Left-Arm Orthodox Spin Bowlers
  • Shining the Ball
  • Bowling with the New Ball
• Four: Leg Spin Bowling
  • The Grip
  • The Action
  • Stock Ball
  • Run-Up or Approach
  • Bowling with Purpose and Spinning the Ball Hard
  • Variations
  • Bowling with the New Ball
• Five: Bowling Principles
  • Finding Top of Off
  • Wind and Slope
  • Bowling with a Wet Ball
  • The Three-Second Rule and the Power of Visualisation
  • Should I Bowl with the Wicketkeeper Up or Back?
  • Run-Ups and Dealing with No-Ball Problems
  • Bowling Principles
  • The All-Rounder
  • Verbals
• Six: Bowling Tactics
  • Before Play (Deciding Whether to Bat or Bowl First)
  • During play (General Bowling Tactics for All Formats)
  • How Will a Batter Try to Counteract the Bowling Plan?
  • How Will the Bowler Try to Counteract the Batter’s Plan?
  • Additional Bowling Tactics Relevant to Each Format of Cricket Played
  • T20 Match (White ball)
  • T20 Bowling Tactics
  • The Hundred (White Ball)
  • The Hundred Bowling Tactics
  • 50-0ver Match (White Ball)
  • 50-Over Bowling Tactics
  • Multi 2, 3, 4, or 5 Day Test Match (Red Ball).
  • Multi-Day Bowling Tactics
  • Field Placings Can Be Used as a Guide for Both Adult and Junior Cricket
• Seven: Mental Aspects of Bowling
  • Mental Toughness
  • Motivations
  • Confidence
  • Visualisation or Mental Imagery
  • Concentration
  • Anxiety Control
  • Act Like a Professional
  • The Role of the Coach in the Bowler’s Mental Development
  • Getting to Know your Bowler
  • The Use of Open-Ended Questions
  • Listening intently to the Answers
  • Reacting to the Answers with Appropriate Thoughtful Responses
  • Use of Funnelling Questions to Self-Empower the Bowler
  • Ensuring a Positive Learning Environment
  • Dealing with Bowlers’ Non-Selection
  • Summary
• Eight: Looking after Yourself
  • Pre-Match Preparation
  • Pre-Match Bowling Warm-Up Routines
  • Post-Match Bowling Cool-Down Routines
  • Weekly Workload Record Sheets (Summer Matches and tTaining)
  • Rehabilitation Work Routines
  • Strength and Conditioning (S&C) work
  • Weekly Workload Record Sheets (Winter Training and Body Conditioning)
  • Fitness
  • Nutrition
  • Bowling in Hot Temperatures
  • Bowling in Cold Temperatures
  • Sleep
  • Bowling Equipment
• Nine: Bowling Drills
  • Coaching Styles
  • Bowlers Coaching Development Methods
  • Games-Based Learning
  • General Technical/Tactical Net Drills
  • Technical Remedial Work Drills
  • Fitness and Stability Drills
  • Useful Coaching Quotes to Remember
• Ten: Introduction to Video Analysis
  • Filming Location
  • Key Elements to Study in the Bowling Action
  • Snaking Run-Up
  • 'Cutting In' or 'Jumping In' During the Bound
  • Excessive Bound Height with Backward Body Lean
  • Excessive Back-Leg collapse
  • Falling to Off Side
  • Front Leg Not Braced
  • Front Foot Cutting Off
  • Redundant Front Arm or Non-Bowling Arm
  • Seam Bowler’s Arm, Wrist and Fingers Not Vertical
  • Seam Bowlers Not Flicking Wrist
  • Off-Spinners Undercutting the Ball
  • Spin Bowler not rotating 180deg
  • Weak Follow-Through (Shoulders, Arms and Feet)
  • Weak Back-Leg Knee-Drive
• About the Authors
• About the Players and Coaches
• Acknowledgements