At various stages on Channel Nine yesterday, two former Australian captains, Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor, with Michael Slater, Brett Lee, commentator Mark Nicholas, and two decade cricket writer Robert Craddock all had a crack at solving the no-ball crisis.
By any standard that group is vastly experienced, and rightfully respected. Did they succeed?
No, because they were basically sympathetic with the bowlers, and that missed the whole point.
No-balls are just dumb cricket, with the bowlers entirely to blame. And until they wake up to themselves and become more professional in their approach, they will continue to play dumb, and very costly, cricket.
What are the coaches doing?
Without exception, pace bowlers bowl countless no-balls in the nets, the very place where this problem should be ironed out and permanently solved.
For example, take Australia’s Olympic and world champion hurdler Sally Pearson. Every training session is devoted to honing her three steps between hurdles, the most vital part of her program.
If Sally was to run in the same lane every meet, her sprig marks would be within a whisker of being the same holes for the entire 100 metres.
Precision and practice makes perfect. That’s why Sally Pearson is the best in the world at her trade. She puts in the work, and the dedication.
These days bowlers have their start mark measured, but rarely take off from exactly the same place. If Sally Pearson did that, she would crash into one of the early hurdles. Event over.
Australians Peter Siddle and James Pattinson, with South African Morne Morkel, all had dismissals dismissed at the Gabba when the review showed they had no-balled. Not by much, but no-balls nonetheless.
All three were critical decisions, but inexcusable.
So too all 33 no-balls at the Gabba – debutant Rory Kleinveldt bowled 12, Vernon Philander eight, Morkel two, and Dale Steyn one for South Africa. Siddle and Pattinson bowled five each for Australia.
It appears the South Africans don’t want to learn, or don’t care. In the three Test series against England in England during July and August, the South Africans bowled 43 no-balls to England’s four.
Leggie Imran Tahir topped the poll with 19, and that’s totally inexcusable for a spinner, Morkel bowled 14, and Philander 10 compared to Jimmy Anderson’s two, and one each for Tim Bresnan and Stuart Broad.
When is the penny going to drop?
Peter
Guest
And without a no-ball rule, what's to stop bowlers charging all the way down the wicket and delivering balls from right in front of the batsman?
The Bush
Roar Guru
I've certainly seen him throw down a few wides though - same deal? In fact does anyone have statistics comparing the no balls out bowlers bowl over a summer? On a final note, there's a significant difference in the run up and effort put in by someone who bowls at 130 and someone that bowls at 140+ - it's simple physics that Pattinson is gonna make this particular mistake more often...
The Bush
Roar Guru
Out of interest does anyone have any evidence that these guys bowl a "spate" of no balls in the nets - I've heard this a few times from journalists, but no evidence has been produced. I'm sympathetic to the difficulty of what I consider a very, very technical and difficult sport, of which bowling is the most difficult skill. It's very easy to point out that this is entirely their fault and proclaim they need to fix it; but if you think these guys can do what they do all day without making mistakes (and this makes them unprofessional) you must be a pretty perfect individual to set the bar that high...
AndyMack
Guest
Sorry Bush, I'm going to do something a bit rash for me and agree with mr lord. If Hilfy can bowl all day long without sending down a no ball, then anyone can do it. Just be a bit professional. It is far too costly. Think of the possible result had we had Kallis out for 40 instead of 140..... (or the saffa's had Cowen out for 40 instead of 130)
David Lord
Expert
Bush, you mentioned sprinting, I made no reference to it at all. And I haven't missed the point either. If bowlers can't keep some portion of their front foot behind the popping crease, there's something missing upstairs. Stop bowling a spate of no-balls in the nets would be a good start, and in the game start their approach from the same spot, and don't try to compensate en route. I'm staggered so many Roarers are sympathetic to the bowlers, when all said and done a no-ball is entirely their fault, so fix it.
Ojasv
Guest
Brett lee yesterday said that at the gabba from a particular end..it was down the hill..so when a fast bowler runs in from that end..he tends to step over the line just a fraction on a few occasions. Thats why many bowlers struggled with no balls. Now that is experience for you. A real good judgement from a very experienced n top fast bowler.
Hoges
Guest
The best fast bowler in history - Michael Holding and one of the fastest - Jeff Thompson never bowled no balls. Both of them landed their front foot well inside the popping crease. There is absolutely no disadvantage to Landing the front foot 20-30 cm back so no bowlers should EVER be flirting with the crease. This shouldn't even be an argument the fault lies with the bowlers and the coaches. I'd like to see every ball of a test series scrutinised and all infringements penalised the front foot no-ball would soon be a thing of the past! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
The Bush
Roar Guru
My point David, has nothing to do with the difficulty of sprinting versus hurdling. You have not focused on the real issue here. Comparing spriting to hurdling is irrelevant, it is the comparison to bowling that is relevant. I am not saying that what Sally does isn't difficult or doesn't require percision - my point is that she only has to perform this task once or twice a day, maybe three times at most. To go back to the key point, I am also pointing out that she only has to handle a handful of things - not to take anything away from the girl, who is a champion, but bowlers are performing a complex task at the end of their run that is detailed and difficult and has a range of other things that requires them to work on and think about that she would never do. Let's not even get into the fact that bowlers have to practice their fielding and batting as well, a whole raft of skills that means they cannot be so "precise" or dedicated to such a simple task (relative) as a hurdler or sprinter. They are also expected to do it over and over and over again - the more times you do something, the more likely you are to make a mistake. These are the points. If you think these blokes are behaving like "rank amateurs" simply because they make mistakes, I cannot accept that - you don't get into the Australian Cricket team without being the embodiment of professionalism.
David Lord
Expert
No Bush, you pull your head in. There's a vast difference between sprinters and hurdlers. Sprint is flat out, hurdlers have to negotiate 10 hurdles with precision and the least time they are airborn the faster they go. So their three steps between each hurdle must be precise, just as a bowler must be precise in his approach or he bowls a no-ball. The comparison has legs. The difference is Sally Pearson does the work to be an Olympic and world champion, no-ball bowlers are highly paid professionals performing like rank amateurs. And by the way Bazza, Sally rarely ever knocks down a hurdle, that's why those medals around her neck are gold.
formeropenside
Guest
definately no balls there
Rugby Reg
Roar Rookie
I love no balls. especially when an Aussie is bowled off one LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
bazza
Guest
Agree with both points 1. Long jumpers train just as much and overstep 2. Hurdlers knock over plenty of hurdles Also how many no balls aren't called that don't get wickets. If the only time that they get called is when they check the replay after a wicket then the bowler won't know that he has been overstepping since the umpire has been missing them
The Bush
Roar Guru
1. Are you seriously comparing the precision of starting on a precise "launcher pad" like track sprinters get too (or at least the fact that there is a clearly painted white line designating the distance), with what they have to mark out - themselves mind you - on grass that is not flat up to a wicket that is not precise? Pull your head in man. 2. Are you also comparing the precision shown by someone who only runs one or two times a day to the level of precision expected of someone who does there "sprint" up to one hundred times a day? Gee wizz, expecting much? 3. Finally, are you comparing the amount of time a sprinter/hurdler etc spends on something like this, when a fast bowler also has to work on the most important part of what they do; bowling? If you don't think these guys aren't as professional as they can be, you are kidding yourself. Finally, your example doesn't even stand up to the test of reality anyway - hurdlers frequently knock down the hurdle - it probably happens in every race. Long jumpers over step their mark constantly also. It can become a problem and can require a bowler to work on it, but to expect them not to bowl a single no bowl in this age of technology is ridiculous. On a final note, I was a fast bowler with a long run up and large jump and I delivered it pretty quick too and never seemed to bowl a no ball. But I bet if I bowled with Test Match umpires and Television replays I'd have bowled quite a few...
Matt F
Roar Guru
I bowled a stack fo no balls, though they were of the not bouncing on the pitch variety :)
Razza
Guest
WHY - WHY - WHY No balls for stepping over the line, they should be fined each time it happens, how simple is it and what does it matter if you lag back off the line the length of your foot or more if you are a good bowler ???. The idea is to get the batsman out not give him another chance and yes "BORING CRICKET" - wake up fellows, it could have been the difference between a win and a loss, not a draw. And the umpires should pull up every no ball by the bowler, not just the "outs", the rules are the rules. Billy Bowden started to call no balls quite a few times after the "out" no balls, i wonder if he got a message from up in the stand. ???
jameswm
Guest
Nor me!
jameswm
Guest
Nice photo! Go Sally!
Tony Tea
Guest
Looks like no balls are also a plague at The Roar.
Dingo
Guest
Make the pitch 1 yard longer and dispose of the whole no ball rule.
Bludger
Guest
Why can't players just move their markers back 20 cm's? I never bowled a single no ball!