It is hard to believe we are almost half way through the year. The upside of of the end of June is it brings on July when I normally head to England for some clinics. This year is no different as I arrive into Heathrow on July 24 before embarking on a months coaching.
Before leaving I have 3 boys attending my "live in" clinics here in Adelaide during the first 3 weeks of July.
Coaching in England gets under way soon after I arrive in the Country.
July 27-29 I am conducting clinics at Chigwell School in Essex. It is a terrific venue and already one day after the mailout five boys have booked.
For the second time I am conducting clinics in Leeds. Dates are 17-19 August and one enrolment has already been received. The venue is Kirkstall Education Cricket Club in Headingly where there are 4 turf nets available for me if necessary.
The weeks in between I will be at Loughborough for the ECB.
It certainly is an exciting time for me. I might even get to watch a day or two of Test cricket at Edgbaston at the end of July.
After returning from England and a couple of weeks off it is probable I will head to New Zealand where apart from a few days coaching, I will catch up with John Howell, an old mate from the days when I did some coaching for NZ Cricket at the High Performance Centre in Christchurch. No rest, as I fly in from Auckland on Sunday 13th and leave for Singapore a couple of hours later for two weeks coaching there, thanks to Mahmood Gazznavi who is organising the program for me.
Life is worth living even if it is very busy some of the time!
Perhaps I will see you at one of the clinics some where, some time, some place? I hope so!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Why so few spinners?
Not for the first time recently the question is being asked in Australia "Where are all the spinners?" People in high places are also asking another question which, whilst it might sound the same, is different. That question is "Why are there so few genuine spinners in Australia?"
A spin summit is to be conducted this year to try and provide answers to those questions and probably more.
The thing about those two questions is the number of questions they create.
Is it the fault of coaches? There are a few who probably believe that.
Is it the fault of captains? There are plenty who feel that way, including Shane Warne.
Is it the size of grounds, or the size of bats nowadays? There is a strong push in that belief.
These are just a few of the questions doing the rounds, each of which creates more questions than we can find answers.
The game of cricket has changed so much over the last 15-20 years and in my view that is the major reason for the demise of genuine spin bowling, either by wrist or by finger.
If in fact those changes in the game eg; 20/20 and 50 over a side cricket is responsible for the decline in genuine spinners being given a chance to develop from junior level upwards. What can be done? Nothing because both forms of the game are here to stay.
Perhaps using proper sized boundaries is one way of encouraging spin, so mis-hits can result in wickets and not public pleasing sixes.
Will less people attend matches if the ball isn't sailing over the boundary like a tracer bullet?
People in high places will probably answer yes to that question. If that is so then please tell me how we, the spin coaches and lovers of the art can continue to promote spin ahead of dot ball bowling.
You see, more questions than answers arise from just a few questions!
A spin summit is to be conducted this year to try and provide answers to those questions and probably more.
The thing about those two questions is the number of questions they create.
Is it the fault of coaches? There are a few who probably believe that.
Is it the fault of captains? There are plenty who feel that way, including Shane Warne.
Is it the size of grounds, or the size of bats nowadays? There is a strong push in that belief.
These are just a few of the questions doing the rounds, each of which creates more questions than we can find answers.
The game of cricket has changed so much over the last 15-20 years and in my view that is the major reason for the demise of genuine spin bowling, either by wrist or by finger.
If in fact those changes in the game eg; 20/20 and 50 over a side cricket is responsible for the decline in genuine spinners being given a chance to develop from junior level upwards. What can be done? Nothing because both forms of the game are here to stay.
Perhaps using proper sized boundaries is one way of encouraging spin, so mis-hits can result in wickets and not public pleasing sixes.
Will less people attend matches if the ball isn't sailing over the boundary like a tracer bullet?
People in high places will probably answer yes to that question. If that is so then please tell me how we, the spin coaches and lovers of the art can continue to promote spin ahead of dot ball bowling.
You see, more questions than answers arise from just a few questions!
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