offbreakdoosra
New Member
Hello all,
Inspired by Funk192's intro thread, this thread serves as a (rather lengthy) introduction, for myself, into this spin bowling forum.
I am, of course, keen on spin bowling but have not always been. In fact for the first 14 years of my life I'd played next to no cricket and disliked the sport. Growing up, soccer was my sport of choice.
However, one day back in 2000/2001, I happen to be listening to Shane Warne being interviewed on a UK radio station. I had no interest in what he was saying and was merely waiting for the topic to get back to soccer, but one throw-away comment in that interview caught my interest.
A member of the public had phoned in asking Warney why England spinner Ashley Giles had not worked on a mystery ball. Shane Warne answered politely, careful not to offend Ashley, but within his response he used the words "I personally can spin the ball both ways..." My ears pricked up at this point. I thought to myself "surely anyone can spin a ball both ways".
I was still only 14 or 15yrs old back then but I had spend much of childhood spinning balls around. Playing soccer I'd always use to try to "Bend it like Beckham". I always enjoyed the flight of the curved ball. When my mini snooker table broke, I used to take the snooker balls and flick them around, just to see how they'll spin.
I would even remove the plastic spheres from my dad's empty roll-on deodorants an tweak them between thumb and fingers to watch it spin in the air. I gained much enjoyment from watching the clear plastic ball slowly drift up a couple of metres, before viciously dipping down and spinning about all over the living room floor... (I was a happy child)
So, I relished this new challenge of actually spinning a ball whilst bowling it. A day after that Shane Warne interview, I took a tennis ball with me to the children's playing cage outside my flats (along with my trusty soccer ball).
To let you know, I had virtually no understanding of cricket "bowling" whatsoever. At 11 years of age, I had been made to play cricket in school; once a week, for three months. It was my first time bowling a cricket ball and as I was not too fond of it, I did not give 100%.
It was only at the end of that three months that I finally comprehended the difference between "bowling" and "throwing" the ball. Nevertheless, at the end-of-year inter-school cricket match, where everyone was made to bowl one over, I was replaced by the captain after 2 balls, because, unbeknown to me, I had reverted back to chucking the ball.
Despite this, my new challenge of bowling spinners went well. I simply contorted my arm, fingers and wrist into grip that I thought be good for generating maximum spin and let rip. To my memory, I was definitely now "bowling" the tennis ball rather than chucking it, and it was spinning a long way too.
I was doing my own thing. I had no knowledge of "off spin" or "leg spin". I had no regards for accuracy and I reckon was only bowling it about 12-15 yards (It didn't cross my mind that a wicket was 22 yards). I wasn't bowling to a batsman, I was merely spinning off the soft artificial turf.
Those things weren't a concern at the time. What did concern me was that, despite bowling with three completely unique grips, the ball was only turning the one way... from left to right.
I now realise what I was I bowling was three different types of googlies.
The easiest one to bowl was an over-spinning wrong'un. It's a googly I can still bowl, with ease and decent accuracy. It has a kick, and breaks quickly. The grip is similar to one of Anil Kumble's wrong'uns/Iverson top spinner) The second one was a faster wrong'un which spun a long way. I can still turn my arm over to bowl it but with very little accuracy. The third googly was the most strenuous. It was slower in flight but turned a lot. To bowl it, I would contort myself into an almost "Paul Adams" style action... but I enjoyed the reward of watching the tennis ball turn square.
All these googlies came naturally to me and were unique to myself. (Please remind me to go into to go into greater depth about these deliveries at some point. I'm sure they of much greater interest to all those reading then my life story)
So, for the next few months, the search was on; to find a delivery that turned from right to left (a leg break)... and this is how I developed a love for spin bowling; knowing there was a practical use for the simple joy i got out of spinning the ball.
Soon I was reading about spin bowling at the library, researching it online and watching as much of it as I can on TV. Not only did I eventually learn the conventional types of spin bowling, I also learnt to appreciate the game of cricket as a whole.
Growing up in inner-city London, I found it hard to find outlet for my new found love of spin bowling. Despite the cultural diversity, soccer and basketball seemed to be the prominent sports and I could only find little cliques of cricket.
I found bowling with a cricket ball and bowling to actual batsmen and different completely challenges. With no training or understanding of my bowling technique I became irked that I was not landing the cricket ball, despite spinning it along way. Eventually, I drifted out of playing the game, but I still watch cricket now and again... and always enjoy when a decent spinner steps up to bowl.
By the way, I did finally manage to bowl the leg break; the conventional one and a self taught Iverson/Gleeson style leg break.
I think there is a lot to be said for originality and the unconventional in bowling. As much as I enjoed the technique of Mcgrath and Pollock, I also enjoy the unquie styles of Sri Lanka's Malinga, Matthews, Mendis and Murali.
Anyway, I've prattled on long enough. What I really like about this forum is the different opinions and comments from all the other enthusiasts: the pros, the amateurs, the part timers and the have-a-go's; all trying to have a better understanding of a difficult and niche art.
I am by no means an expert, but I believe I can weight in with my different viewpoint on things... and rest assured I'll keep my comments a lot more brief then this.
Cheers,
Offbreakdoosra
Inspired by Funk192's intro thread, this thread serves as a (rather lengthy) introduction, for myself, into this spin bowling forum.
I am, of course, keen on spin bowling but have not always been. In fact for the first 14 years of my life I'd played next to no cricket and disliked the sport. Growing up, soccer was my sport of choice.
However, one day back in 2000/2001, I happen to be listening to Shane Warne being interviewed on a UK radio station. I had no interest in what he was saying and was merely waiting for the topic to get back to soccer, but one throw-away comment in that interview caught my interest.
A member of the public had phoned in asking Warney why England spinner Ashley Giles had not worked on a mystery ball. Shane Warne answered politely, careful not to offend Ashley, but within his response he used the words "I personally can spin the ball both ways..." My ears pricked up at this point. I thought to myself "surely anyone can spin a ball both ways".
I was still only 14 or 15yrs old back then but I had spend much of childhood spinning balls around. Playing soccer I'd always use to try to "Bend it like Beckham". I always enjoyed the flight of the curved ball. When my mini snooker table broke, I used to take the snooker balls and flick them around, just to see how they'll spin.
I would even remove the plastic spheres from my dad's empty roll-on deodorants an tweak them between thumb and fingers to watch it spin in the air. I gained much enjoyment from watching the clear plastic ball slowly drift up a couple of metres, before viciously dipping down and spinning about all over the living room floor... (I was a happy child)
So, I relished this new challenge of actually spinning a ball whilst bowling it. A day after that Shane Warne interview, I took a tennis ball with me to the children's playing cage outside my flats (along with my trusty soccer ball).
To let you know, I had virtually no understanding of cricket "bowling" whatsoever. At 11 years of age, I had been made to play cricket in school; once a week, for three months. It was my first time bowling a cricket ball and as I was not too fond of it, I did not give 100%.
It was only at the end of that three months that I finally comprehended the difference between "bowling" and "throwing" the ball. Nevertheless, at the end-of-year inter-school cricket match, where everyone was made to bowl one over, I was replaced by the captain after 2 balls, because, unbeknown to me, I had reverted back to chucking the ball.
Despite this, my new challenge of bowling spinners went well. I simply contorted my arm, fingers and wrist into grip that I thought be good for generating maximum spin and let rip. To my memory, I was definitely now "bowling" the tennis ball rather than chucking it, and it was spinning a long way too.
I was doing my own thing. I had no knowledge of "off spin" or "leg spin". I had no regards for accuracy and I reckon was only bowling it about 12-15 yards (It didn't cross my mind that a wicket was 22 yards). I wasn't bowling to a batsman, I was merely spinning off the soft artificial turf.
Those things weren't a concern at the time. What did concern me was that, despite bowling with three completely unique grips, the ball was only turning the one way... from left to right.
I now realise what I was I bowling was three different types of googlies.
The easiest one to bowl was an over-spinning wrong'un. It's a googly I can still bowl, with ease and decent accuracy. It has a kick, and breaks quickly. The grip is similar to one of Anil Kumble's wrong'uns/Iverson top spinner) The second one was a faster wrong'un which spun a long way. I can still turn my arm over to bowl it but with very little accuracy. The third googly was the most strenuous. It was slower in flight but turned a lot. To bowl it, I would contort myself into an almost "Paul Adams" style action... but I enjoyed the reward of watching the tennis ball turn square.
All these googlies came naturally to me and were unique to myself. (Please remind me to go into to go into greater depth about these deliveries at some point. I'm sure they of much greater interest to all those reading then my life story)
So, for the next few months, the search was on; to find a delivery that turned from right to left (a leg break)... and this is how I developed a love for spin bowling; knowing there was a practical use for the simple joy i got out of spinning the ball.
Soon I was reading about spin bowling at the library, researching it online and watching as much of it as I can on TV. Not only did I eventually learn the conventional types of spin bowling, I also learnt to appreciate the game of cricket as a whole.
Growing up in inner-city London, I found it hard to find outlet for my new found love of spin bowling. Despite the cultural diversity, soccer and basketball seemed to be the prominent sports and I could only find little cliques of cricket.
I found bowling with a cricket ball and bowling to actual batsmen and different completely challenges. With no training or understanding of my bowling technique I became irked that I was not landing the cricket ball, despite spinning it along way. Eventually, I drifted out of playing the game, but I still watch cricket now and again... and always enjoy when a decent spinner steps up to bowl.
By the way, I did finally manage to bowl the leg break; the conventional one and a self taught Iverson/Gleeson style leg break.
I think there is a lot to be said for originality and the unconventional in bowling. As much as I enjoed the technique of Mcgrath and Pollock, I also enjoy the unquie styles of Sri Lanka's Malinga, Matthews, Mendis and Murali.
Anyway, I've prattled on long enough. What I really like about this forum is the different opinions and comments from all the other enthusiasts: the pros, the amateurs, the part timers and the have-a-go's; all trying to have a better understanding of a difficult and niche art.
I am by no means an expert, but I believe I can weight in with my different viewpoint on things... and rest assured I'll keep my comments a lot more brief then this.
Cheers,
Offbreakdoosra
