Action - coil and spring

Action – coil and spring

There is perpetual argument about what makes a good fast bowler's action. One thing's for sure, the explosiveness of fast bowling puts a lot of strain on your body however you let go of the ball. It is generally agreed, however, that you can divide all good actions into two categories: front-on and side-on.

Side-on delivery

This is the textbook technique and Darren Gough's action (below left) is classically side-on. Just prior to delivery, Gough's front arm points roughly in the direction of the batsman and he looks over his left shoulder at the wicket with his chest facing the non-striker. His left foot will be pointing at (right-handers) long leg and he will pivot off it as he releases. Side-on bowlers tend to be plagued with frequent injuries.

Darren Gough – side on

This is the MCC approved bowling action but propelling the ball like this is not a natural movement and can lead to injuries.

Front-on delivery

Courtney Walsh is a fine example of the alternative, front-on method (below). It's very typical of the loose-limbed, West-Indian style. In mid-air, his left arm is pointing towards the off-side and he looks under his left shoulder. His chest is facing down the wicket (it's sometimes called an open-chested action) and as he lands, his front foot will be pointing towards the slips. It's a very relaxed, easy style, and, as Walsh is the leading Test wicket-taker in the world and has hardly missed a match in 15 years, there is a lot to recommend it.

Courtney Walsh – front on

You can see that Walsh's action is a smooth fluid one, everything is moving in the same direction.

Bowlers with mixed actions, for example, front-on in approach and side-on in release, get into trouble. Their bodies usually can't stand the twisting from one position to the other and buckle under the strain, as Andrew Flintoff has discovered.

Achieving momentum

Each quick bowler uses his body in a slightly different way, which accounts for why some are quicker than others. Gough is a strong, bustling sort of bowler, Walsh is more loose-limbed and languid. Allan Donald's form is a combination of supreme athleticism and timing. Height is obviously important but there are lots of other factors.

The examples below are viewed from side-on, and clearly show why two men of similar physique bowl at quite different speeds.

Craig White

White's is an explosive action – his front leg is braced as he lands, making sure he maximises height, enabling him to surprise people with his consistent pace of above 85mph.

Dominic Cork

Cork's action lacks the impact of White's. His knee is bent as he delivers the ball and so he loses a bit of height, which is why his average speed is around 75mph.

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