Seam Bowling in cricket

Posted on July 21, 2009
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Seam bowling is a bowling technique in cricket in which the cricket ball is deliberately bowled onto the seam which causes a random deviation.Bowlers using this technique are called as seam bowlers.seam is effectively used by both fast bowlers as well as medium pace bowlers and hence the terms “seamer” and “fast bowler” are largely synonyms.Some seamers or fast bowlers make use of other varieties of fast bowling like Leg cutters and off cutters to impart the deviation.

What causes random deviation of the cricket ball?

A cricket ball is not a perfect sphere and it is made by adjoining the two pieces of leather to form the seam and the seam is noticeably raised.When a fast bowler or a seamer bowls such that the seam hits the pitch and this irregularity of the ball causes a random deviation to the left or right side when it bounces.The deviation also depends upon the surface of the cricket pitch.

With the seam vertical, the ball is held in the fingers, resting on the third finger and thumb, with the middle and index fingers either side of the seam.Keep the seam as upright as possible

With the seam vertical, the ball is held in the fingers, resting on the third finger and thumb, with the middle and index fingers either side of the seam.Keep the seam as upright as possible

In order to achieve this kind of bowling a seamer should have to deliver the ball held upright,with rotation about a horizontal axis.A small backspin helps to keep the seam aligned vertically as it approaches the batsman,making it likely that the ball will bounce with the seam on the pitch.The seam has to be held upright between the index finger and the middle finder at the time of the delivery of the ball.The wrist should have to be perfectly straight when the ball is releasing from the hand.

The former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath is one of the great bowlers who used the seaming ability to a greater extent.The pitch which has cracks also helps the bowlers for a random deviation.Former Australian bowler Dennis Lillee made use of Leg Cutter technique to get the deviation of the ball.

Dennis Lillee

Dennis Lillee

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