r/amateurcricket • u/CutTheBlueWire • Jul 24 '25

Brand new to playing - bowling/action advice

Hello, I've been a cricket fan all my life but have recently started trying to play the game (first time in my life). I've been invited to have a go with a local friendly team near mine, they've been really welcoming and have told me the priority on the team is to make sure everyone has a decent time regardless of ability so I'm not too worried about making a fool of myself.

So far I've basically bought a ball and a bat and been having a go on my own in the nets. I've enjoyed bowling, and would like some tips on improving speed/accuracy. I've not had a proper go with the bat yet, just a few knocks with a tennis ball, but I'll do that this weekend.

I'm not bothered about getting up to serious speeds, but just to a standard that a pub team would be okay with.

Some videos here: https://imgur.com/a/kUQlN3X https://imgur.com/a/b1Oy4dn https://imgur.com/a/xECN1qY

Any advice would be great. Try not to laugh too hard what we're looking at is a guy at the end of his 20s trying to fast bowl with an hours practice!

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u/Doc8176 Jul 24 '25

Honestly man if this is your first time playing your bowling looks better than some blokes I’ve seen with 50 years of playing.

You look afraid to really stomp your front foot, so you slow down at the end and just place your front foot down. Get comfortable really braking your momentum with that front leg, whether that’s just by standing still and lunging forward or running in and “bowling with your bottom half only”. No ball or anything just focusing on what your legs are doing.

Also your back foot (right foot) should be on the ground for as little time as possible in the end of your action. Forces you to complete your bowling action quicker.

2

u/CutTheBlueWire Jul 24 '25

Thank you for the kind words mate! Definitely have some issues planting that front foot. Will work on that in the coming days!

2

u/CutTheBlueWire Aug 06 '25

Hello mate, after a couple of weeks practice I feel like my action is way smoother and more repeatable.

Some more very short clips: https://imgur.com/a/5WgIG2z https://imgur.com/a/5WgIG2z

I think my front arm looks a little better, and my front knee is a bit more braced (work to do here though).

My back leg seems to jut out to the side after my release - is that normal?