Q&A for How to Be a Good Fast Bowler

You can try focusing on the point you want to bowl. If you wish to bowl a yorker, look at the batsman's toes during your run-up. This might help you.

Yes you can increase it by increasing your stamina and run up. Increase the strength in your muscles also.

Count the steps from the bowling crease to the run up mark. Then, start your run up and count the number of steps you have taken.Do this frequently and your run up will be smooth.

Take some deep breaths at the start of your run-up: doing so should help clear your mind.

If you are new, take a short run-up. Run-up straight and fast. During run-up gradually increase your speed. Then, if you are a right-handed bowler, jump with your left leg and land on your right and then place the left leg far front and as straight as you can. Then, rotate your arm and just at the point of release, flick the bowl straight with both fingers in alignment. After this, you can flick the bowl sideways() to get swing. But for now, try to increase your pace as much as you can because swinging the ball often results in lessening of pace. And remember to appreciate yourself(Seriously, it helps).

Achieving that kind of speed takes years and years of hard work. Many professional bowlers with speeds above 140kph have been playing for at least a decade, if not longer. However, refining your technique and developing greater upper body strength will also help you bowl faster in the short term.

Try flicking your wrist downward as you bowl the ball and keep practicing that. Keep a coach or someone knowledgeable beside you to guide you through the steps.

Do a daily walk, run or jog and do warm ups. Do some regular weightlifting and stretches.

It's all about rhythm and angles, as well as staying fit and getting your body to click. There are certain things that will come naturally––your general coordination, for instance, and snapping your wrist at the point of delivery. Deep down, bowling fast is something you have to want to do with a passion, because it's very hard work.

Something about your run up may be interfering with your delivery. Try shortening or slowing down your run up and sink your weight once you're ready to bowl. This will give you a more stable base to throw from, which can help improve your speed and power.

Do not fear no balls. Instead, first concentrate on bowling properly, take proper steps before bowling and practice often. The key really is in practice, so you know how the ball feels and moves after many tries.

Pluck up the courage to go and participate. The whole purpose of the program is to increase your skill and confidence. You will get practice both mentally and physically. It will boost your confidence and give you the coping skills to go to a higher level of the game.

Neither. You focus on the stumps. Or outside of the stumps. If your eyes are focused on the batsman, the ball can go anywhere. It is important that you do what you are comfortable with.

Swinging the ball depends largely on how you release it. It also depends on the wrist and your bowling action. Jump is what you'll have to set by fixing your run up. When your run up is constant then your jump would be good and then swinging the ball would just be fine. Count the number of steps for your run up and then practice in the nets.

You can buy a speed gun, which can precisely tell you the speed of the ball you just bowled.

Exercises like bench and shoulder presses, dips, push ups, and pull ups target the main muscle groups used in throwing. Be sure to incorporate some lower body and core exercises such as squats, deadlifts, lunges, box jumps, and crunches, as well, as fast bowlers need to be able to utilize their entire bodies in order to generate force.

Pay close attention to the angle of your arm. It's okay for your elbow to have a little bend in it as long as it remains at the same angle throughout the bowl. If you bend then straighten it, it's considered a "throw" and is more likely to be called.

As a bowler, it's the personal preference of your run up that works best, but traditionally it's 9 steps from the crease for fast, excluding the release jump.

First and foremost, make sure you have a secure grip on the ball, with your fore and middle fingers clamped down on either side of the seam running down the middle of the ball. If you're still having trouble maintaining your grip, consider wearing gloves when it's your turn on the crease. If your league doesn't allow gloves, see if you can use a little chalk to increase your traction.

Yes, but you'll need to work on your stamina, endurance, and strength beforehand. Those are the only qualities necessary for a cricketer!

It's feasible that you could pick up the basic mechanics in a year, but perfecting them will likely take much longer. Professional players often play for years, sometimes decades, before they get picked up. Just be patient and focus on developing your skills as much as you can--it will come in time.

Try spin so that the ball comes right after a pitch and it goes left - that way, the batsman moves and he/she will get bowled.

If you're right-handed, try releasing the ball slightly later to make sure it has time to veer to the off side. If you're left-handed, it may help to release slightly earlier or adjust your run up to account for consistent drift. Either way, it will also help to keep your eyes fixed on the exact point where you want the ball to go and snap your wrist on release.

Most professional teams and players use radar guns that gauge the ball's speed as it passes and provide an instant readout. Unfortunately, there's no accurate way to determine the speed of your delivery without a radar gun or similar tracking system. However, you might be able to find a cricket academy or training camp in your area that will allow you use their equipment to test your bowling speed.

The short answer is no. The standing world record speed for fast bowling is 161kph, a record which hasn't been broken in 15 years. With enough practice and conditioning, however, you could eventually reach similar speeds, and perhaps be the first to eclipse the world record!

That depends on which works better for you. Most players tend to look at the pitch to direct the ball where they want it to go, but it may also be helpful to focus on the batsman if you're attempting to bowl a Yorker or deliver midline.

Try to hit the left foot on the ground with greater force. It will increase your pace.

Train without them! Bodyweight exercises are a great way to increase your strength without the need for special equipment. They're also useful for keeping the parts of your body that are often strained by bowling healthy. Do lots of pushups, pullups, and dips to target your upper body. As you get stronger, you can incorporate more advanced movements, such as clapping pushups and muscle-ups.

Certainly, with the right physical training and enough practice. Professional-level fast bowlers can often deliver at speeds of 140 or higher. In fact, the current world record bowling speed is 161kph, set by Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan in a game against New Zealand on 27/04/02!

Absolutely! If anything, using a ball with stitches makes fast bowling easier. The seam acts as a helpful reference point and allows you to check your grip, Make sure you're holding the ball with your fore and middle fingers resting on either side of the seam. Then back up and let 'er rip!