Deciding What Type Of Bowler To Become.

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bomberboy0618

bomberboy0618

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I have reached a stage where I cannot decide what type of bowler to become. I feel that either way I go I will be decent, but I know I need to stick with one. I can spin the ball decently, but I reckon that I could generate a lot of pace when I get older. Which way would you advise I go?
 
bomberboy0618 said:
I have reached a stage where I cannot decide what type of bowler to become. I feel that either way I go I will be decent, but I know I need to stick with one. I can spin the ball decently, but I reckon that I could generate a lot of pace when I get older. Which way would you advise I go?
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As a spinner I'd always say take the spin route unless of course you're talking about finger-spin;). Seriously though, it sounds as though if you're faced with this choice you must be relatively young 13-14 maybe? Have a look around at your club and other clubs nearby, try and get some sense of the stats of local players - is it the case that on a consistent basis spinners take more wickets at most of the local clubs? Are the local wickets where you play better suited to spin or pace? Does your club have loads of spinners or pace bowlers? Do you fancy a 5 or 6 year apprenticeship possibly served on your own if you're a wrist spinner? Are their coaches or blokes at your club who know anything about spin if you take that option? Do the captains appreciate the potential of spin? How tall are you is your Dad or your brothers all 6'6" tall - in which case pace bowling seems like an option. What do you enjoy most - what gives the most satisfaction getting a bloke back to the sheds through planning and guile or by scaring the life out of him and smashing his stumps and ribs all over the place?
 
How old are you? You don't really have to decide until your late teens I wouldn't say. As long as you put the work in, you will keep improving at both simultaneously.
 
someblokecalleddave said:
Doh! The blokes 21! Sorry mate. In that case you need to make your mind up fast!
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Well possibly. Although I would say that if he hasn't made up his mind by 21 then he probably isn't going to be a professional cricketer. With that in mind, I don't think there's any rush, as specialisation is for the pro's really. I always tell the kids I coach that that the best way to get a lifelong enjoyment out of cricket is to master as many skills as possible. Obviously there will be things that they are better at than others, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't try to be the best that they can at every facet of the game. In my time I've batted at every position in the order, fielded at every position on the ground, including several times keeping wicket (which is really fun), and bowled numerous spells of pace and both types of spin. Cricket never gets dull this way; you're always facing new challenges. You never know what your club is going to need from one weekend to the next or what different skills will be called for throughout your career.
 
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