In cricket,
at the start of an
innings the
pace bowlers on the bowling team usually bowl first. Usually the pace
bowlers will bowl for 10 overs in a
one-day international or about two hours in a
Test
match. Pace bowlers traditionally bowl first since the cricket ball is
initially hard and smooth, and hence moves quickly through the air, bounces
quickly off the pitch and does not spin much. Generally the fast bowler's job is
to get as many early wickets (batsmen
out) as possible and make inroads into the opposing batting line-up.
Objectives
The main objective of the bowler is to
take
wickets. Usually the batting order is such that the best players bat first.
As the bowling team gets more wickets, the lesser skilled batsmen come to face
the bowling. If the bowling team can take quick wickets, it can reduce the
confidence of the batting team and can help keep their score low.
The second objective of the bowler is to prevent the batsmen scoring runs. A
bowler's effectiveness at keeping the batsmen from scoring runs is measured by
the bowler's economy rate. Economy rate is the number of runs scored from his
bowling per over bowled. If the bowler succeeds in keeping the economy rate
below 3 an over, for say 4 of his overs, this can create pressure on the batsman
to score runs. This sometimes induces the batsman to play more risky shots,
which may result in wickets being taken.
The third objective of a bowler is to limit the number of
wides and
no balls
bowled.
The team is required to bowl a set of overs within a time frame. The number
of overs bowled per hour is known as the over rate. Failure to maintain
the over rate above the stipulated time would invite a monetary penalty imposed
by the umpires.
Line & length
The bowler must bowl a tight
line and length. The best line would be pitching the ball just outside the
off stump. This would mean that the ball passes between the batsman's bat and
body.
A ball of the ideal length will bounce up to around the batsman's waist
level. At this height, it is difficult for the batsman to freely play his
stroke. The ideal length is such that the batsman is unsure whether to move his
weight onto the front foot or the back foot to play his stroke. But bowlers
should also vary the length, i.e. vary the bounce so that each ball is not
predictable. A bouncer (short pitched ball which rises above the batsmans neck)
can unsettle the batsman.
The bowler can also bowl a surprise speed ball, at a slower/faster speed than
he normally bowls. This can trick the batsman into miscalculating his stroke and
may result in a wicket falling (batsman getting dismissed).
One day internationals
In
one-day international matches fast bowlers are employed for around 10 overs,
depending on various factors such as the condition of the pitch, weather, and
general strategy. After 12-15 overs the spinners come to bowl.
After that, the fast bowlers who bowled the first few overs return to bowl
around the 30 to 40th overs to complete their quota of 10 overs. There is no
fixed rule as to when a bowler can bowl, as long as he bowls a maximum 10 overs.
He is not allowed to bowl 2 or more consecutive overs.
Usually the best fast bowlers bowl the last few overs. This tactic is
employed to try and prevent the batsmen 'going after' the spinners and scoring
many runs. Usually the batsmen will play more aggressively during the final few
overs, since they are less concerned with getting out, and more concerned with
maximising the number of runs scored.
After the 15 overs are up, the game tempo usually slows down a bit. There
aren't too many boundaries (4's) hit. After the 35th over, the batsmen tend to
be more aggressive to score quickly, so during this period, the most experienced
bowlers bowl. The last 15 overs are known as the slog or death
overs. As the batsmen are looking to hit as many big hits as possible, bowlers
get hit around and their economy rate worsens. However this is also the most
productive part of the game for the bowlers as wickets tumble here.
If the team bowling in the second innings have a good total to defend, they
may try to slow the run rate rather than bowling aggressively to take wickets.
This can cause the batting team to begin taking unnecessary risks and result in
wickets falling. Taking wickets is crucial to win the match as the more wickets
the opposition have in hand (not-out batsmen) the greater the chances of the
batsmen scoring runs rapidly. If the bowlers are defending less than say 200
runs, wicket taking is imperative to win the match. Bowlers must remember that
there is a strong correlation between the batting side losing wickets and a
slowing of their run rate. Two new batsmen at the crease always have to
consolidate and more often than not the run rate will slow.
Test cricket
In
Test cricket, the overs are unlimited. As a consequence, a bowler's economy
rate is lower than that of a one day international match. For a bowler, getting
wickets is the main task. The more wickets a bowler takes, the less a chance the
batsmen can score a big total. The margin for error in bowling wide balls in
Test matches is much higher, so the bowler need not be as accurate as in a one
day international match. He may also bowl 2 bouncers per batsman per over.
