I had a couple of season diaries on two sites and here is my introduction to both. This was written on April 11th.
I am a left arm medium pace bowler who bowls predominant outswing to the right hander. Over the winter, I have worked on increasing my pace and adding an inswinger to my repertoire. My cousin owns a speed gun and I have recently been timed, in indoor nets after a long net session, at 62mph; this is an increase from my previous best, last season of 58mph. I am someone regarded as a geniune number 11 because of my 'Dhoni-esque' shufflly style which does not look comfortable to the ridiculously untrained eye but do capitalise when I get my rare chance up the order
Started my 'pre-season' in late September/early October by going to club winter nets. I started off attempting a Wasim Akram-esque quick wippy action, but after a few weeks, was back to my standard action. Throughout the nets, I worked up an okay pace, timing at 62mph in one of the net sessions and 60-61mph on my seven other timed deliveries. The coach at the sessions was trying to help me add an inswinger to my repetoire, as you need not be a genius to see the potential affect of such an ability for a left arm over the wicket medium pace bowler. Trying several grips, changes in action could only give me occasional, sporadic inswing, but it was a good focus point for the sessions, despite it being to no avail. School winter nets were moreso aimless for me; as it became clear that I wasn't to make the step up to First XI cricket from age-group cricket but rather rot in the low level of Second XI cricket for school. I moved into the First XI net for one session but didn't impress and haven't gone back since.
My start to the season was in the relaxed environment of a house match but it couldn't have gone worse, itbt. I bowled with no pace or accuracy and was punished for 17 off my 2 overs. Whilst batting, I did in my right shoulder. Had a wild swing for one and felt it pop out of place and was in intense pain for a few seconds, the pain cleared up after a while, but it was not a pleasant experience and to time of writing, I still cannot throw to full intensity - yes, I throw with my right hand and bowl with my left, get over it!
My first competitive match of the season came quite late, around late May due to rain washing out a few early fixtures. It was a Sunday friendly club game for a local club, not my own mind. I bowled crap, tbh, it was an uneven astroturf surface and I simply couldn't land properly. I batted and ground out 20 before getting run out in the late overs. I was quite pleased with this, 20 is obviously not a great score, but I rarely get a chance to bat, even though I am adamant that I
can bat and I think that it was a sufficient capitalisation on a rare chance in the top order.
In my first school game, I returned with 6-0-27-0, moderate returns but felt I did deserve a wicket and that I did bowl well. It would eventually be seven 'real' (non house) games before my first wicket in the season, something which tortured me and put me in an awful place mentally. In the process of this match, I twisted my ankle in the jump, similar to Fidel Edwards in the series against Australia. I did recieve some light relief in a house game the following day, where I basically walked up to the crease but managed 1.4-0-1-4 with some nice late outswing. My accuracy in the beginning of the season simply wasn't good enough and I was hardly bowling quickly either.
My poor start to the season convinced me to spend £60 on an Ian Pont video analysis and these were the points he raised in the five-page document.
Ian Pont analysis
I was rather cautious, upon opening my analysis from Ian Pont. However, any doubts I had were dismantled by what was a very comprehensive, concise and focused analysis. It is a five page document and the main points are as follows:
- I have a safe, solid action
- I have a weak, ineffective shuffly run up. Too flat footed and must lift up knees and pump arms more.
- Got to jump, both further and higher
- Must control elbows more in the action to point to the ground during jump.
- Must have more relaxed shoulders at delivery.
- I throw my bowling hand in front of me after backfoot impact whereas it should be by stomach or side.
- I lift my backfoot off ground before delivery like a spinner whereas I should drag it.
- I release the ball behind my head, should be slightly infront.
- Must improve shoulder rotation.
Mid season is not the best time to incorperate changes, but I worked on the new load up - a vague impersonation of Brett Lee in that aspect and recieved a lot more swing and slightly better accuracy as a result. In my first game with the new load up (an U16 game), I picked up 4-1-5-1 and took a diving catch, something which noone, not least I, expected. This new load up got me started in the season, but after about 5 or 6 games, it still wasn't feeling natural and it became apparent that it hindered my pace greatly, sorta the opposite of its primary intention.
Once I had reverted back to my natural action, I began to crank up the pace for the first time in the season and started bowling very accurately - moreso than before, and economically.
The squad for Australia (a school cricket tour) was chosen in around early July and I was the second person into the room to be given the verdict. I wasn't selected. It was extremely demoralising as I was one of the few (possibly the only) probable who was both above Year 9 and wasn't given a single chance in the First XI. This put me in a very low place, because it could have been a great experience for me - but oh well.
My best spell of the season came that weekend for the (club) Saturday 4th XI in which I returned with 12-4-22-2. These figures were outlined by very good accuracy on my behalf and could have been even more extraordinary had the bouncer I bowled been caught on the boundary and not tipped over for six. I continued to bowl well for the 4th XI, picking up 1-2 wickets in each game and bowling pretty economically too. As people started to go on holiday, I got into the 3rd XI and bowled similarly well there, picking up 1-2 wickets a game and bowling economically, again.
Friendlies have become the norm toward the end of the season and I have done pretty well in them. I managed to score 46 off 40 balls in a U16 friendly on a shocking track. This is my top score to date and I was a little peeved not to get a fifty but happy nonetheless that I scored some runs, again, when promoted up the order. My pace has picked up as August draws to its end as I suspect I have got stronger - my accuracy has also improved somewhat and I am feeling in very good form (always the weekend to ruin that!).
In summary, the season:
For four saturdays during the school term, I played...
2nd XI school cricket - A low level but one in which I did not capitalise in taking wickets in due to attempting to change my action which consequently lost me pace and also that we did only play 4 games in the season. Angry not to be given a chance in the 1st XI and not get on the Australia Tour (which is scheduled for Dec 2009 btw). Team was undefeated.
On Friday evenings, I played...
U16 club cricket - I opened the bowling throughout the season and picked up toward the end of the season. I did not pick up many wickets, but was economical throughout and bowled a few good spells. Team came third in the league.
After the school term, on saturdays, I played...
4th XI club cricket - Became an integral part of the side with my bowling which was often probing and occasionally reaped rewards. Team finished low mid table.
3rd XI club cricket - Played very well in my chances in the 3rd XI. Impressed all that saw me bowl with my lively pace and occasional 'jaffa'. Team came second in the league.
On Sundays and during the midweek in summer holidays, I played...
Club Friendlies - Have bowled well, picked up a fair few wickets. Don't usually bowl to full capacity in friendlies, but have bowled some okay spells and woohoo, scored 46 off 40 in a U16 friendly, as mentioned above.
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Over the winter, I wish to persevere with a winter physical training programme whose aim is to get me to increase my pace to 70mph an ambitious but imo achievable aim. This is my provisional programme, which is subject to change.
Daily
Boxing heavy bag - Three minutes high intensity for each stance (left and right).
Planks - A plank for maximum time; twice per day, not immediately consecutive.
Hamstring stretch - Leg on elevated surface for 30s, both legs. Twice per day.
Quad stretch - Standard quad stretch for 30s, both legs. Twice per day.
Negative chin ups - Working up weekly from one per day*
Squats - Working up weekly from two per day
Shrugs - 7kg (approx) dumbells. 10 reps per day.
Rows - Need to learn technique first, but will likely be 10 per day.
*They give me soreness around the left lat, as I have mentioned before, but this muscle may simply be left tender due to bowling - is it worth doing them in that is the reward worth it?
Twice (might be once) a week
Interval sprints - Likely to be 20kph for 30m for six '6 ball overs'.
Rowing machine - 50m as quick as possible on resistance 4 with 10 reps (30s imbetween reps)
Machine circuit - Upper body machines (sitting pully, chest compressor; sitting press, etc); each 4 sets of 5 reps with high weight.
