So a bowling coach bill in the offing?

Pathan's move once again made me look for answers to the same old query, as to why don’t we hire a bowling coach. The plight of the situation can be felt by this lament

"The current management seems quite allergic to the concept of having a bowling coach and it's now too late to have one...nothing reflects this more than the fact that over 10 fast bowlers have been experimented with in the last year. And still the team is not in a position to name three bowlers," wrote Srinath in a national daily.
[ source : Indiatimes ]

If there really is a taboo regarding this issue, which people in charge are not willing to go over, can’t they find a mid way. Something like a forum where the needy and the expert could share thoughts. Impaneled renowned veteran bowlers answering queries and may be scheduling sessions with our bowlers, if needed, should go some way in resolving the issue. Our bowlers can really use some help.

Is bowling training up to snuff

What turns an ordinary talent into batsmen’s nemesis. I say the training that he gets to bowl the ‘other’ 4 or 5 deliveries. Every bowler who is playing international cricket is expected to have enough talent to bowl at least 1 potential wicket taking delivery every other over. With that, maintaining the right line and length during the other 4 - 5 deliveries not only gives him control as he is not giving away runs but also lets him use his talent of swing or seem movement etc to its full lethal potential as he’s already practiced enough to bowl in the corridor of uncertainty. A good experiment fetches you maximum dividends in the corridor of uncertainty.

During last few years of Shrinath’s career, he was bowling consistently in the corridor of uncertainty; he was most dangerous then thus. He, however, learned it himself and it took him all his experience to do that. You look at any new bowler in Australia, you will find him doing the same but not at the end of his carrier- Nathan Bracken, for an instance is not hugely talented or experienced but is a force to reckon with within a few years of his playing international cricket. He may not have potential to take a wicket on every delivery but he sure wont give you easy runs.

We are not short of talent. We are lucky to have Irfan Pathan, who is able to swing the cricket ball dangerously, we have bowlers like Ajit Agarkar, who with an amazing wrist action can generate serious pace, swing the ball and bowl whistling Yorkers at death. What these two have, they thwart in the ‘other’ (in their case) 3-4 bawls that they bawl.

Shrinath, just before retirement, was acting as the spear head of our pace attack, we could see his consistency visibly getting brushed on to the other two bowlers- Zaheer an Ashish, and the trio formed an attack which was a pleasure to watch. He was probably acting as the bowling coach of the team unknowingly at that time. We all saw, how Waseem Akram's guidance had turned Irfaan from a raw talent into a finished product. Our bowlers are direction less right now. They need guidance, thats it.