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Cricket Tips - Cricket News
Cricket Tips: Bowling toward the end of an innings
The extraordinary one-dayer between Australia and South Africa not so long ago has definitely shown how far one-day cricket has come since being introduced since the 70s. Today, to be the best bowler in the world you need to know how to bowl an impeccable line and length, but also to know how to bowl to batsman who wants to belt you over the fence no matter what. This is where a lot of bowlers get into trouble these days... Always being taught to bowl short of a good length, outside off stump has caused bowlers to find it awkward to deliberately bowl elsewhere, and therefore they get punished when the batting side are looking for some quick runs at the end of an innings. You might be like... 'So what?'. But when you the other team scoring 70 odd runs off just 6-10 overs you'll be wishing you'd bowled a bit tighter.
So how do you stop batsmen from scoring so quickly?
a) Pitch the ball up: Aim for the toes/base of middle and leg stump. The worst thing you probably do is tee the ball up off a nice bounce for the batsman to wack over the fence. Sure, you're no Glenn McGrath - but you'll at least get a couple landing perfectly at the toes (practice!), and if not they will be low full tosses which are pretty hard to get underneath.
b) Set the field: It's best that you set your field fairly spread out so that those potential boundaries can be cut down to ones and twos. Start off by having a deep mid-on and mid-off, deep cover, deep mid-wicket and deep fine leg. Soon you'll start to see where the batsman's favourite spots are.
c) Change it up: Try to avoid consistently bowling at the same pace. Sure it's easy to say, but a lot of bowlers neglect how important a good slower ball is. You want to keep the batsman guessing... this is probably one of the easiest ways to do it.
d) Take your catches: Pretty obvious. Catches win matches. A slogfest is usually perfect for practising your outfield catches in a real-match situation. Try to have your best fieldsmen (who can not only catch, but are also quick on their feet) in key positions in the outfield.
e) Sledge: A rather neglected ploy, but it gets batsmen cocky - enough to make them lose concentration. |
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Singaporeans taking to "Capoeira" |
More Singaporeans taking to Brazilian martial art "Capoeira"
SINGAPORE : Mention Brazil and many would think of football and samba. But now, the country's martial art called "Capoeira" is fast gaining popularity as it makes fighting more like a "song and dance".
Its acrobatic moves, rhythm and music make Capoeira more than a martial art.
It has a rich history dating back 400 years which transcends both African and Brazilian cultures.
And now it has gone global.
The recent 4th International Festival in Singapore saw Capoeira Masters coming from Brazil, France, Holland, Austria and the region. It drew 80 participants, mostly Singaporeans, to the workshops held.
Master Ousado, Association of Capoeira in Singapore, said: "Everyone practise - kids, old people, young people. It's for everyone. It's not dangerous, it's comfortable, very relaxed."
So relaxing, the graceful movements and hypnotic music have got many Singaporeans hooked.
Nithiya Mariappan, Singaporean Capoeira Practitioner, said: "It is different because it does not only focus on the fighting element, it's got a lot of Brazilian culture in it. It's very, very colourful, the song element really brings me in a lot and because of that I am very passionate about it."
Interest in this art form has led to the setting up of the Association of Capoeira in Singapore in 2002.
There are now about 120 practitioners, with the numbers set to grow. |
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Billups Pushes Pistons Past Grizzlies
Pistons 113, Grizzlies 103 (F)
Chauncey Billups had 28 points and 14 assists, while Richard Hamilton scored 27 points as the Detroit Pistons beat the Memphis Grizzlies 113-103 on Tuesday night.
Detroit 113, Memphis 103
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Dec. 11 (AP) -- The Detroit Pistons wanted to make sure from the start the Memphis Grizzlies never got comfortable.
And by shooting better than 60 percent through much of the first half and building the lead to 24 points, the Central Division leaders were in control most of the game.
Chauncey Billups had 28 points and 14 assists, while Richard Hamilton scored 27 points as the Pistons beat the Grizzlies 113-103 on Tuesday night.
"We came out and wanted to be aggressive against that team, especially since they like to run and gun,'' said Billups, whose point total was a season high. "If you let them get confidence, they can be very dangerous. We came in, and pretty much had it our way offensively.''
Tayshaun Prince scored 19 points and Jason Maxiell finished with 15 points, missing only one of eight shots from the field as the Pistons won their seventh game in the last eight.
Rudy Gay led Memphis with 20 points, 16 in the second half, while Pau Gasol and Kyle Lowry both had 18 points. Hakim Warrick scored 17 points, and Darko Milicic had 12, all in the first quarter.
The Grizzlies, who lost a season-high fifth straight, got little from their starting guards as Mike Miller and Damon Stoudamire combined for eight points, both going 1-of-4 from the field.
Detroit built the lead to double digits in the first half and was never really threatened the rest of the way, although Memphis did get within 105-98 on a three-point play by Gasol with 1:55 left.
Detroit shot 51 percent for the game and committed only eight turnovers. Hamilton was 11-of-16 from the field, while Billups, one of the top free throw shooters in the league, made all 12 of his foul shots.
"We've got to get back to our defensive principles, getting back on `D' every time no matter what,'' Lowry said. |
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