Bowling strategy (cricket)

In cricket, at the start of an innings the bowling team opens its bowling by using their pace bowlers first. The two fast bowlers open the bowling attack bowling for 10 overs in a one-day international or about two hours in a test match. Since the ball is initially hard, it does not spin much. The captain marshals his bowlers around. The fast bowler's job is to get as many early wickets (batsmen out) as possible and make inroads into the opposing batting line-up. This would put the opposition into dire straights. The bowlers use their arsenal of speed, swing, seam and cutters into use.

Objectives

The main objective of the bowler is to take wickets. Usually the batting order is such that the best players bat first. If you take wickets, it exposes the not-so-good batsmen. This usually results in the opposition score being kept low. The second objective of the bowler is to keep his economy rate low. Economy rate is the number of runs scored of his bowling per over he bowls. If he succeeds in keeping the economy rate below 3 an over, for say 4 of his overs; this would create some pressure on the batsman to score runs. Then two things can happen: A 6 or some 4's are hit, to ease the pressure; or the batsman plays a rash stroke, thus getting out. The third objective of a bowler is to limit the number of wides and no balls bowled. The team is required o bowl a set of overs within a time frame. The number of overs bowled per hour is known as the over rate. Failure to maintain the over rate above the stipulated time would invite a monetary penalty imposed by the umpires.

Line & length

The bowler must bowl a tight line and length. The best line would be pitching the ball just outside the off stump. This would mean that the ball passes between the batsman's bat and body. The ideal length to bowl is the good length balls, which bounce around the batsman's waist level. At this height, it is difficult for the batsman's to free his arms to hit the ball. But bowlers should also mix the length, i.e. vary the bounce so that the batsman doesn't get settled. A bouncer (above the head) can unsettle the batsman. The bowler can also bowl a surprise speed ball, at a slower/faster speed than he normally bowls. Such surprises may result in a wicket falling (batsman getting dismissed).

One day internationals

In one-day international matches fast bowlers are employed for around 10 overs. After 12–15 overs the spinners come to bowl. Spinners like the soft ball as it has greater rotations. Usually the fast bowlers bowl the initial 15 overs; After their spell of 10 – 12 overs are complete, the spinners and medium–pace bowlers come between the 15 and 30 overs to bowl. After that, the fast bowlers bowling the first few overs return to bowl around the 30 to 40th overs to complete their quota of 10 overs. There is no fixed rule as to when a bowler can bowl, as long as he bowls a maximum 10 overs. He is not allowed to bowl 2 or more consecutive overs.

Bowling first

If the team is bowling first, taking wickets helps in slowing the opposition get a huge score. As the batsmen are looking to put up a decent total, the bowlers must bowl accurately. The best line the bowlers bowl is that the ball passes just outside the off-stump. After the 15 overs are up, the game tempo usually slows down a bit. There aren't too many boundaries (4's) hit. After the 35th over, the batsmen tend to be more aggressive to score quickly, so during this period, the most experienced bowlers bowl. The last 15 overs are known as the slog or death overs. As the batsmen are looking to hit as many big hits as possible, bowlers get hit around and their economy rate worsens. However this is also the most productive part of the game for the bowlers as wickets tumble here.

Bowling second

If the batsmen have scored above 250 runs in the first innings, the team bowlers have a good total to defend when the opposition chases that target. They try to be as miserly as possible in letting runs being scored. Taking wickets is crucial to win the match, as the more wickets the opposition have in hand (not-out batsmen), greater chances of the batsmen scoring runs rapidly. If the bowlers are defending less than 200 runs, wicket taking is imperative to win the match.

Test cricket

In test cricket, the overs are unlimited. As a consequence, a bowler's economy rate is lower than that of an ODI match. For a bowler getting a batsman out is the main task. The more wickets a bowler takes, the less a chance the batsmen can score a big total. The margin for error in bowling wide balls in test matches is much higher, so the batsman need not be as accurate as in an ODI match. He may also bowl 2 bouncers per batsman per over.