Simon Hughes
Shock Tactics
Some new-ball bowlers just aren't able (or willing) to patiently stalk the corridor of uncertainty. They'd sooner blast the batsman out than smoke him out. They'll try to bowl as fast as they can and vary their length and line, often more by accident than design. In amongst the odd good length delivery will be a sprinkling of bouncers and yorkers meaning that the batsman has to stay on red alert.
Bouncers
It is with good reason that the bouncer is the most feared delivery in
cricket. Propelled somewhere near the middle of the pitch, it's aimed to rise up towards the batsman's jaw and make life uncomfortable for him. A batsman who is a compulsive hooker or doesn't seem to line up the bouncer too well, will be peppered with them (although only two per over are allowed in Test cricket).
 'Chin music'
Walsh hits Hussain (left) on the helmet.
Walsh is a corridor-type bowler, but he will suddenly unleash a surprise bouncer. The ball will be banged in half-way down the pitch and much quicker than his regular delivery (above). His head and leading shoulder dip down fractionally more for this ball, but it's all too quick for the batsman to see. In this instance, it definitely was for Hussain. This one struck him on the head while he was still halfway through his stroke.
This type of bowling is exciting to watch because no one is quite sure what is going to happen next. One ball may be loose and smashed to the boundary, the next may be a snorter that singes the batsman's nostrils, leaving him watchful and hesitant.
Copyright material reproduced under license from Macmillan Publishers Ltd. London, England
Copyright © Simon Hughes 2001
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