Damien Fleming presents Bowlology

" Bowlology - The science of maximizing the physical, mental and emotional capabilities of a bowler.  A program built through the study and observation and experience of an injury prone slightly delusional former Australian fast bowler.”

I came up with the concept of Bowlology in my time as a coach at the Centre of Excellence in Adelaide then Brisbane. It all started while I was doing some radio work at the time we were doing an report on former Green Bay Packers Gridiron player called Reggie White who had just passed away his nickname was the impressive“The Minister of Defence” Something clicked yes I could continue to pass myself of a regulation fast bowling coach or I could come up with concept that set me apart. And it was also an opportunity to refer to myself in the third person, yes flemo would like that. And it hit me who would a budding fast bowler rather get mentoring off a fast bowling coach or the Bowlologist? No contest. The Bowlologist was born.

Let’s look at the Pillars of this modern day coaching phenomena and some great examples of the bowling art. The 6 deliveries of Bowlology are Ball 1. The physical 2. The Technical 3. The Mental 4. The skills 5. The In game Tactics 6. The Performance

BALL 1 THE PHYSICAL
Height, build, strength, Fitness, flexibility, stability, recovery

Curtly Ambrose- Physically imposing West Indian Fast Bowler who used his 200 cm height to great affect with acute bounce and accuracy at good pace. Not the friendliest bloke on the field you had as much chance of seeing him smile as you would see Darryl Hair getting invited to Inzamam-ul-haq’s 40th birthday. It was always Menacing facing him as there was always a threat of real physical harm. And with me being allergic to pain he was my natural enemy. When Facing Curtly It felt like the sensation when you lean back on a chair and catch yourself just before you fall I had the feeling every ball I survived off him.

BALL 2. THE TECHNICAL
Safety, Efficiency, Run up, Gather, delivery stride, release and follow through

Alan Donald- “White Lightning” Had the whole package he was a Biomechanics delight, Starting with his run up with a great athletic approach he could have been a 400 metre runner before his take off into a direct compact gather then jumps straight towards off stump a good release with wrist and fingers behind the ball for a good release for swing and finishes his action of with a powerful follow through finishes only yards from the batsman with an aggressive stare.

BALL 3 THE MENTAL/ EMOTION
Vision, Game Plans, self awareness, Belief, Passion, ball by ball focus, checklists

Glenn McGrath-. His vision is always to be the best bowler in the game, Accumulates wicket like Paris Hilton attracts boyfriends, and Rarely flustered in pursuit of another positive statistic thanks to be one of the most efficient fast bowlers of all time. Like Richard Hadlee has the incredible self belief to write his targets in print and then back it up on the field. In the running to play the Terminator in the 4th movie installment

Merv Hughes- Epitomized all about giving 100% and never giving up with his massive heart. SO big was his heart that if Phar Lap had had Merv’s heart he would have won 5 Melbourne cups. His teammates admired his drive and passion to push himself to the limit time and time again even when his body was crying out for a rest. Also a member of the exclusive club of Australian Test players who have taken a Test hatrick and made a Test 70. Merv, I will book our usual table for two at next years reunion for that club.

BALL 4. THE SKILLS
Stock balls, Pace, swing, Cutters, bouncers, Yorkers

Wasim Akram- the Eddie Maguire of Fast Bowlers in my time. Like Ed hosting Who Wants to be a Millionaire he had all the questions and more importantly the answers. Express pace of a short bustling run up, accurate, Swung the New and old ball like a boomerang, Bouncer that lifted you off the toes, then would smash the little pinkies with crushing Yorkers and a few pretty good slower balls to go. The Bowlology’s Buddha he is worshipped daily by graduates of the program.

BALL 5. THE IN GAME TACTICS
Reading Pitch and Assessing Batsman, Setting up wickets, Cues, Ball by ball review, adjusting pace, line and length.

Shane Warne- In Arnie Schwarzenegger movie terms If McGrath is the Terminator then Warne is the Predator.” His mantra is If it bleeds we can kill it” sniffing out any weakness in the batsman game. The master of the hunt well prepared great skills at his arsenal. Spins a web over most batsmen he has come across whether bowling to their weakness for a period of time playing on their insecurities. Or bowling sometime to batsman’s strength so their confidence lifts and they become more daring in their stroke play until Warne spins his trap and knocks them over with either the leg spinner, wrong un, flipper, zooter, zinger take your pick. Magician.

BALL 6. THE PERFORMANCE
Wickets, Maidens, Strike rates, Runs per over, Partnerships.

Bowlers win Test matches. And at the end of the day it is in your performance by how you are rated.
Remember relax and work on the above 5 balls and let it happen in the game confident in the knowledge that you have done all the work.

As in the golfing comedy Happy Gilmore when Happy is sitting over a putt and looks a bit worried
The sports psychologist says referring to the golf ball “You’ve done the work to get to here. Just send him home. He’s got his back packed and his airline ticket. Just send him home”

Well that’s a short explanation of BOWLOLOGY however it is impossible to cover the total program in one page. However I will leave you with one last quote from the Bowlologist.

” The goal of program is to get the bowler (Graduate) to a stage of his development that when the umpire asks him what he bowls the bowler will say “Right arm Sizzler”. When the umpire asks “what do you mean?” the bowlers will reply “Like a smorgasbord I’ve got the lot”