'Fast bowling is a young man's pursuit'
The Wednesday Interview with Frank Tyson
Nagraj Gollapudi
27-Sep-2015
Frank Tyson believed that the travel involved in modern cricket was the cause of fatigue among fast-bowlers rather than being overused by captains • PA Photos
After a lean couple of years, a new generation of fast bowlers is emerging. As the monsoon drizzled lightly across the Cricket Club of India lawns at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, one of England's former greats, Frank Tyson, dwelt on the fast bowlers' trade and its exponents in an extensive chat with Wisden Cricinfo.
Is fast bowling all about speed?
No. Fast bowling is about getting wickets; it's about beating the bat - that's a sign of good fast bowling. More often than not those who can beat the bat depend on the swing, the cut, the curve, the variation of speeds - all subtleties of fast bowling. More importantly, they rely on discipline and accuracy. Basically, discipline means putting the ball in the right area consistently - six times out of six or at least six out of eight. So you force the batsman to play the ball six times in that area, and then diagnose and identify his weaknesses in that manner.
No. Fast bowling is about getting wickets; it's about beating the bat - that's a sign of good fast bowling. More often than not those who can beat the bat depend on the swing, the cut, the curve, the variation of speeds - all subtleties of fast bowling. More importantly, they rely on discipline and accuracy. Basically, discipline means putting the ball in the right area consistently - six times out of six or at least six out of eight. So you force the batsman to play the ball six times in that area, and then diagnose and identify his weaknesses in that manner.
What's your take on the current crop of fast bowlers
Let me say that the skill level in fast bowling is not quite there today as it was in yesteryears. The things that they could do in the 50s and 60s they don't seem to do today. And I ask myself why. For instance the swing: if you see an action shot of that magnificent bowler Ray Lindwall, you will notice he used to swing it by a foot both ways. You very rarely see that today. I don't know why, it might be the ball, but I rather fancy that it's the technique when the fast bowler is being coached.
Let me say that the skill level in fast bowling is not quite there today as it was in yesteryears. The things that they could do in the 50s and 60s they don't seem to do today. And I ask myself why. For instance the swing: if you see an action shot of that magnificent bowler Ray Lindwall, you will notice he used to swing it by a foot both ways. You very rarely see that today. I don't know why, it might be the ball, but I rather fancy that it's the technique when the fast bowler is being coached.
The coaches mostly stress on the biomechanical principle of summation of forces in one direction towards your target, but in doing so they neglect the fact that they need to have a little bit of lateral swing from the shoulder to make the ball move away, by placing their foot a little bit further across the wicket without using too much rotation of the spine - just a little bit, so that they can get the ball to move away across the batsman and also get the inswing because at the moment, they are using their body to push the ball more in to get inswing.
What is the right age when a young bowler's technique can be worked out properly?
Between the ages of 10 and 13, before the second growth spurts. This is the time when a youngster absorbs the things he has learnt and is putting them into practice. Incorrect technique is one of the great causes of injuries. Many a time, you hear people saying: "Oh, this boy has got a mixed action". What they mean is his lower half of the body is going towards fine leg and the upper half is going towards first slip. Consequently, there is rotation of the spine over the front foot. We have found that the greatest cause of injuries is counter-rotation of the spine, where the upper part of the body starts going away towards first slip and comes back again, counter-rotates, and then back again. When that occurs your body weight is falling on your front foot causing irreparable damage to the spine. So with an incorrect technique, the injury can occur on the first ball you bowl.
Between the ages of 10 and 13, before the second growth spurts. This is the time when a youngster absorbs the things he has learnt and is putting them into practice. Incorrect technique is one of the great causes of injuries. Many a time, you hear people saying: "Oh, this boy has got a mixed action". What they mean is his lower half of the body is going towards fine leg and the upper half is going towards first slip. Consequently, there is rotation of the spine over the front foot. We have found that the greatest cause of injuries is counter-rotation of the spine, where the upper part of the body starts going away towards first slip and comes back again, counter-rotates, and then back again. When that occurs your body weight is falling on your front foot causing irreparable damage to the spine. So with an incorrect technique, the injury can occur on the first ball you bowl.
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Do you think the lack of experienced fast bowlers in teams, barring a [Shaun] Pollock or a [Glenn] McGrath, or a [Chaminda] Vaas, is not helping the youngster?
When I toured Australia in 1954-55 I was 24; Brian Statham was 24; Peter Loader was 24. It was a young man's game - we won the series, taking two-thirds of the wickets. Fast bowling is a young man's pursuit; a good fast bowler, usually, has youth on his side, has enthusiasm on his side. Zorba the Greek said: "Everyone has a little bit of madness in him". And, I suppose, at the age of 24 you still retain that madness, you haven't learnt the wisdom of not bowling as fast you can. You need that passion, the desire to succeed. So people like Brett Lee will succeed and someone like McGrath, who has cut down on his speed, is still the best bowler with his wisdom.
When I toured Australia in 1954-55 I was 24; Brian Statham was 24; Peter Loader was 24. It was a young man's game - we won the series, taking two-thirds of the wickets. Fast bowling is a young man's pursuit; a good fast bowler, usually, has youth on his side, has enthusiasm on his side. Zorba the Greek said: "Everyone has a little bit of madness in him". And, I suppose, at the age of 24 you still retain that madness, you haven't learnt the wisdom of not bowling as fast you can. You need that passion, the desire to succeed. So people like Brett Lee will succeed and someone like McGrath, who has cut down on his speed, is still the best bowler with his wisdom.
Most of the young fast bowlers strain to attain high speeds. Is that harmful?
No. It's simply satisfying. Speed is only comparative. Speed is a means of dismissing a batsman if applied correctly. For instance, speed in a bouncer is useless unless you force the batsman onto the back foot to induce an error. But if you are just continuing to bowl a bouncer to intimidate, you are wasting your time. Speed is only relevant in the context of batsman's reaction: if it is quick enough to beat a batsman, fine, it is effective. If, on the other hand, speed is not productive then it is harmful as you are wasting your sweetness on the desert air. When people ask: "How fast were you?", I say, "Go and ask the batsman".
No. It's simply satisfying. Speed is only comparative. Speed is a means of dismissing a batsman if applied correctly. For instance, speed in a bouncer is useless unless you force the batsman onto the back foot to induce an error. But if you are just continuing to bowl a bouncer to intimidate, you are wasting your time. Speed is only relevant in the context of batsman's reaction: if it is quick enough to beat a batsman, fine, it is effective. If, on the other hand, speed is not productive then it is harmful as you are wasting your sweetness on the desert air. When people ask: "How fast were you?", I say, "Go and ask the batsman".
A good fast bowler, usually, has youth and enthusiasm on his side. Zorba the Greek said: "Everyone has a little bit of madness in him".
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Is too much cricket another cause of injuries?
Many people say fast bowlers are overused; they bowl too much. I point them to the fact that, back in the 50s, Alec Bedser bowled 1300 overs in county cricket in one season; Freddie Trueman would bowl about a 1000; even I bowled about 800 in one year, playing for Northamptonshire. So, you can't say that there is more bowling because nowadays they are bowling, on an average, 600 overs in a year. However, the fast bowler of today is constantly moving around and has to cope with the stress and strain that comes from having to play so many matches, in so many different parts of the world with so many miles between each venue. I used to hate that, all that travelling.
Many people say fast bowlers are overused; they bowl too much. I point them to the fact that, back in the 50s, Alec Bedser bowled 1300 overs in county cricket in one season; Freddie Trueman would bowl about a 1000; even I bowled about 800 in one year, playing for Northamptonshire. So, you can't say that there is more bowling because nowadays they are bowling, on an average, 600 overs in a year. However, the fast bowler of today is constantly moving around and has to cope with the stress and strain that comes from having to play so many matches, in so many different parts of the world with so many miles between each venue. I used to hate that, all that travelling.
Recently back in England, Richard Johnson, who played for England, echoed the same concern. He said that after finishing playing for Somerset at Taunton at 7 o'clock in the evening, they had to catch a coach or take a car ride to Durham, which they reached around 3 o'clock in the morning, and then had to be ready to play cricket at 11. Some of the schedules that the administrators devise are absolutely ridiculous. When fatigue sets in, your skill level drops off and that holds back your technique. Then, there is the boredom of playing constantly against the same opponents. Take the VB Series in Australia where twelve games are played between three sides just to eliminate one. It's obviously the influence of television.
Do you fancy watching the cricket's latest soap opera: Twenty20?
I haven't seen it. I am a bit of a purist; a bit of a snob. I like to see technique. I like to see the aesthetic beauty of the game. For me it doesn't gel well, but given a ticket I wouldn't mind going for a short time and watching the game. And it pulls the crowds to the ground, doesn't it?
I haven't seen it. I am a bit of a purist; a bit of a snob. I like to see technique. I like to see the aesthetic beauty of the game. For me it doesn't gel well, but given a ticket I wouldn't mind going for a short time and watching the game. And it pulls the crowds to the ground, doesn't it?
People need to be educated about Twenty20 if they need to appreciate the game. What they are looking at is the ball being smashed around everywhere and runs being scored at a faster rate, which is exciting. That they can appreciate very easily. But can they appreciate a good shot? Can they appreciate good bowling? If I'm going to watch a Twenty20 game, will it make a difference if it is played on a perfect wicket which makes the batsman take outrageous risks or if it is played on a green top where he finds it difficult even to connect the bat with ball?
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Aren't bowlers being rushed back from injury?
Certainly. Brett Lee is good example. He tried coming back once after having an operation, and now he has broken down again. I have never experienced anyone being rushed back into the first-class game after being cut open for surgery. I wonder, whether the medical teams, who are very good at their job, have ever experienced the kind of injuries the fast bowler suffers, or if they realise the demands that are placed on him when he re-emerges after the break.
Certainly. Brett Lee is good example. He tried coming back once after having an operation, and now he has broken down again. I have never experienced anyone being rushed back into the first-class game after being cut open for surgery. I wonder, whether the medical teams, who are very good at their job, have ever experienced the kind of injuries the fast bowler suffers, or if they realise the demands that are placed on him when he re-emerges after the break.
How impressed are you with Steve Harmison?
He is strong, well-built, big, quite fast and he makes the ball lift from a reasonable run-up. Against that, his action is pre-dominantly open, and though that can get him to bowl inswing, he has shown a tendency to let his weight fall over to the left. Consequently he is not observing one of the basic requirements of pace bowling - the summation of forces in one direction. He tries pushing the ball down the leg side of the right-hander, costing a few runs in the process. He does move the ball away, cuts it well across the left-handers. But he needs to bowl far more consistently and accurately if he is not to be hit by the Australians.
He is strong, well-built, big, quite fast and he makes the ball lift from a reasonable run-up. Against that, his action is pre-dominantly open, and though that can get him to bowl inswing, he has shown a tendency to let his weight fall over to the left. Consequently he is not observing one of the basic requirements of pace bowling - the summation of forces in one direction. He tries pushing the ball down the leg side of the right-hander, costing a few runs in the process. He does move the ball away, cuts it well across the left-handers. But he needs to bowl far more consistently and accurately if he is not to be hit by the Australians.
During the New Zealand series, I observed that he missed the fire that was visible during the Caribbean tour where he was not accurate. Against New Zealand, he had tightened up on accuracy and maintained a controlled run-up, but didn't come out as a tearaway.
How can shorter fast bowlers dominate batsmen?
It's interesting to note that most of the bowlers who were both quick and accurate have, for the most part, been fairly chunky, with few exceptions. Take Larwood, Lindwall, Miller, Trueman, Statham, Marshall - none were giants; they had very strong shoulders and bodies which were not prone to injuries. Another thing that could be investigated is the case of strength versus elasticity. These days, fast bowlers are trained: they carry out a lot of weight training to strengthen various muscles. But no-one has ever tested the elasticity of a bowler - his suppleness.
It's interesting to note that most of the bowlers who were both quick and accurate have, for the most part, been fairly chunky, with few exceptions. Take Larwood, Lindwall, Miller, Trueman, Statham, Marshall - none were giants; they had very strong shoulders and bodies which were not prone to injuries. Another thing that could be investigated is the case of strength versus elasticity. These days, fast bowlers are trained: they carry out a lot of weight training to strengthen various muscles. But no-one has ever tested the elasticity of a bowler - his suppleness.
Michael Holding was extremely supple, with his fluid movement. Now, we have Jimmy Anderson, who is very impressive with a muscular elasticity that allows him to whip the ball through. By and large, it doesn't matter if you are tall or a squat. You just need to develop the muscles, and you have to work on it from a very young age because then they get stronger over a period of time. You just can't start when you are 20.
When does the fast bowler know that it's over for him?
It's not a question of age, it's one of attitude. When you try to compromise on pace, you know that it's over for you as a fast bowler. You can't switch the desire to bowl fast on and off - it's there or it's not. Once you lose it, you must say to yourself: "Enjoy your cricket", which I always did.
It's not a question of age, it's one of attitude. When you try to compromise on pace, you know that it's over for you as a fast bowler. You can't switch the desire to bowl fast on and off - it's there or it's not. Once you lose it, you must say to yourself: "Enjoy your cricket", which I always did.
Nagraj Gollapudi is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo