Atul Sharma

[Goughy]

Also pleased you use similar methods...may need you at the MCI School of cricket if you are free?

Unfortunately not.

I stopped coaching when I left South Africa. The irony of ironies (given this thread) being that I couldnt be bothered to have to explain myself daily to people that didnt 'get' fast bowling.

 

[Manee]

Unfortunately not.

I stopped coaching when I left South Africa. The irony of ironies (given this thread) being that I couldnt be bothered to have to explain myself daily to people that didnt 'get' fast bowling.

You've stopped coaching? What are you up to these days?

 

[Manee]

"Well, they test your potential before you even get a javelin in your hand: basically, you are seen as a potential 90m javelin thrower if you can do a standing long jump that's 1.5 metres more than your height; that shows decent leg strength"

Just did the test, albeit with sore legs...1m.

 

[Goughy]

You've stopped coaching? What are you up to these days?

Im waiting on some paperwork. Ill give you a shout on MSN when it comes through.

Just did the test, albeit with sore legs...1m.

Just did it in the frontroom, barefoot, on a hardwood floor. Expected better to be honest. A disappointing 2.37 (best of 3 quick attempts)

Edit- Given a quick look at the NFL combine and with doing it in footwear outside at a respectable hour, Im going to set the target of 2.75 for myself. Long way short of the 3.20 odd Id have to do to match Sharma but good enough to beat some NFL Tight ends and linebackers.

Ill not break 3m but Id be interested if any Webber could.

 

[Manee]

Just did it in the frontroom, barefoot, on a hardwood floor. Expected better to be honest. A disappointing 2.37 (best of 3 quick attempts)

Edit- Given a quick look at the NFL combine and with doing it in footwear outside at a respectable hour, Im going to set the target of 2.75 for myself. Long way short of the 3.20 odd Id have to do to match Sharma but good enough to beat some NFL Tight ends and linebackers.

Ill not break 3m but Id be interested if any Webber could.

2.37! You're making me feel bad about my attempt. I'm piss weak in my legs though, really do need to sort them out. And in my defense, I have got through three games in the last three days. Doubt I'll get over a meter, even when fresh, though.

 

[Evermind]

Just did the test, albeit with sore legs...1m.

You mean 1m + height or 1m flat? It's very unlikely to be the latter, surely?

 

[Manee]

You mean 1m + height or 1m flat? It's very unlikely to be the latter, surely?

1m flat. Pathetic, I know.

 

[GIMH]

I was jumping further than that aged 12 and I'm a pathetic excuse of a human! Try harder La!

 

[Neil Pickup]

I can step further than one metre from a standing point.

 

[ret]

The complete interview from SPIN magazine..

Cricket Interviews

that's a good read!

 

[oitoitoi]

Good read indeed, if it's all true he's certainly overcome some big obstacles in his life, pretty inspiring stuff, not sure about him not believing in talent though. Guessing though that him not getting a game so far means that his actual cricket skills are way off match ready as yet, maybe next year we'll see him.

 

[Burgey]

I'll take what you say Goughy as somewhat of a compliment, (even on the Pont is correct on most of what he says in terms of mechanics part...lol). So thanks - my book publishers will be pleased I got most of it right even though it was applied mechanics to be fair and is a different way to coach. Also pleased you use similar methods...may need you at the MCI School of cricket if you are free?

I can assure you there has been no deliberate intention to package Atul Sharma in any way. It's raw and honest - no media hype, no marketing agencies, no team PR - just his story. But it has come out in dribs and drabs because no one was in a position to announce anything official as we didn't know about the IPL ourselves until close to the time.

It's hard to know what to do press wise with someone who can bowl serious gas but has no background of cricket. SPIN magazine have been the first to do a proper job by interviewing everyone involved.

I think everyone will be happy to see Atul bowl. Atul included.

Ponty, I realise you've made a number of posts on this thread, and if you've already traversed this then forgive me.

The approach you've taken with Atul Sharma has, probably, found scepticism because it's just so different from the "normal" path cricketers have taken to the top for more than 100 years. That being so, do you have some trepidation yourself about his making it?

I mean that not so much from your faith in your methods, but rather this particular fella getting to the top having had so different a path. If he gets up and going, it would almost re-write the established career path for a top flight cricketer wouldn't it? Anyway, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on that.

 

[Top_Cat]

It's hard to know what to do press wise with someone who can bowl serious gas but has no background of cricket.

Get him on the park!

 

[pasag]

The complete interview from SPIN magazine..

Cricket Interviews

Looks a bit like Rocky in that second pic...

 

[Jono]

FFS Pasag, you know its Ivan Drago.

 

[Ponty]

Ponty, I realise you've made a number of posts on this thread, and if you've already traversed this then forgive me.

The approach you've taken with Atul Sharma has, probably, found scepticism because it's just so different from the "normal" path cricketers have taken to the top for more than 100 years. That being so, do you have some trepidation yourself about his making it?

I mean that not so much from your faith in your methods, but rather this particular fella getting to the top having had so different a path. If he gets up and going, it would almost re-write the established career path for a top flight cricketer wouldn't it? Anyway, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on that.

The best question in 43 pages of posting.

I fully back Atul 100%. I have seen him work and know what he can do. It's always a test between the player and the technique because BOTH are different to the established 'traditional' techniques used by fast bowlers.

However, the ABSAT methods I use are not really in question here because they are widely being worked towards by other leading pace coaches. What is unique here is Atul's background and fitness levels.

You have to remember that he had a front on action when he came to me, which we changed to sideways. That in itself is a massive change. We followed the power based route and working with javelin coaches helped us to cement the 'stretch reflex' part of the action we ID'd as vital for Atul.

Only a step by step viewing of his action reveales why he generates speed. For example Brett Lee takes 14 frames to go from back foot impact to ball release, Shoaib 13 frames - Atul takes just 7 frames. So we are talking about faster energy transfer.

Whether Atul is the one who can rewrite the way we coach cricket I doubt. Malinga hasn't, Fidel Edwards hasn't and Jeff Thomson didn't. I don't think 'cricket' is ready for something so advanced because existing methods still get results, inspite of those methods.

Great fast bowlers will always come through. Some have good actions, some have bad. Some are tall and skinny, some are short and stocky. I don't think we can ever say ''this way is the ONLY way'', which is why I am also disappointed that people seem to be critical of Atul's training - but not surprised as they don't know any different.

For Atul, we looked at what would work best for him and took those steps. And here we are now.

It's very bold and brave, and certainly new. The next stage is to get Atul fit to bowl (after his shoulder injury has set him back) and get him out there playing. I think the media are interested because there has been no background on Atul and for him to sign pro terms from nowhere is remarkable.

We still have MUCH work to do though.

 

[Arjun]

Will he have to go through the grade/club cricket stage before his FC debut? What options have you explored in domestic cricket? He'll have to start at a relatively late age, for an Indian player, and most Indian selections at any level are in favour of youth.

 

[Ponty]

Will he have to go through the grade/club cricket stage before his FC debut? What options have you explored in domestic cricket? He'll have to start at a relatively late age, for an Indian player, and most Indian selections at any level are in favour of youth.

Well look, clearly Atul will have to play somewhere other than the IPL. We are looking at that. With regard to India selections, let's just see how he goes in matches. I believe age isn't important if you are good enough and 23 is hardly ancient!

 

[silentstriker]

Well look, clearly Atul will have to play somewhere other than the IPL. We are looking at that. With regard to India selections, let's just see how he goes in matches. I believe age isn't important if you are good enough and 23 is hardly ancient!

Not ancient, but from Indian selector's warped sense of priorities, he'd be middle aged.

 

[Arjun]

Well look, clearly Atul will have to play somewhere other than the IPL. We are looking at that. With regard to India selections, let's just see how he goes in matches. I believe age isn't important if you are good enough and 23 is hardly ancient!

We see several players younger than 23 years play for India, so it's a point to think about. I get the idea that he'll have a hard time making a Mumbai or Delhi team because of the quantity of pace bowlers in these places. On the other hand, he'll have a chance of leading a bowling attack of a team that's got very weak or ineffective pace bowlers, and hopefully it will be a profitable option (unlike most Plate teams). All of this is, of course, selectors look at quality and not just age, which is the right way to go.