Early Times Report
NEW DELHI, July 6: It's not the bowling action, it's the run-up itself, said former India left-arm spinner Murali Kartik as he dissected the technical issues in Ravi Bishnoi's multiple back-foot no-balls that resulted in an expensive over of 29 in the lost second T20I against England.
Kartik said Bishnoi's exaggerated semicircular run-up to the crease has altered his alignment, forcing him to cut the return crease. He suggested that a return to the smaller "C-shaped" run-up that served him well earlier could solve the problem without requiring a complete remodelling of his action.
Kartik explained that Bishnoi's back-foot no-balls are rooted in the way he approaches the crease and gathers before release.
"I think back-foot no-balls happen because your run-up is like that and your load is like that. Ravi Bishnoi has had some different run-ups over the years. Even during the IPL, he had this sort of a semicircle, you can call it, or a C, whatever you want to call it. That's the way he runs in to get to a position to bowl," Kartik told PTI during an interaction.
According to Kartik, Bishnoi's bowling style is naturally suited to a more upright arm position because he is predominantly a googly bowler rather than a classical leg-spinner.
"Bishnoi's bowling hand comes in a perpendicular line, very straight. So as a leg-spinner, you have to be slightly away from your ear at the time of release to get the ball to spin.
"So at the time of the load, the back of your right hand should be pointing towards covers and the ball inside the palm should be directed towards mid-wicket. But Bishnoi has his right arm close to the ear because he is primarily a googly bowler, who can also bowl the slider to left-handers." |
