A bowler in cricket delivers the ball such that it traverses the 22-yard pitch by bouncing once on the surface before reaching the batter. This delivery has to be effective enough to procure a wicket or at least restrict the flow of runs. To ensure these needs are met, the bowler has to be disciplined in pitching the ball in the right areas while simultaneously imparting variations and changing the pace of the ball. The resulting delivery has a line and a length that describes the bowler’s delivery. This article focuses on the importance of length in bowling.
The length of a delivery is how long and tall the ball travels upon pitching. There are three principle lengths that a bowler resort to – full length, good length, and short length.
When the bowl is pitched short, it bounces higher. This length is most often preferred by pace bowler. The batter receives the incoming delivery at or over the shoulder height. Such a delivery is difficult to control as there are chances of the bowler delivery a wide ball if the ball goes overhead the batter or a no ball if a second bouncer is bowled in the same over. The no ball not only results in an extra run but also gives the batters a free hit on the next delivery where they cannot be dismissed except a run out.
A good length delivery is a disciplined length and can be effective if the bowler can consistently pitch the ball in that region. Such a delivery sees the ball pitching near the center of the pitch and reaches the batter below the shoulders. There is little room for the batter to play a free shot. However, a good length might not be as effective on flat sub-continent pitches. This is because of the predictable length of the ball on such pitches.
A full length delivery can be a double-edged sword for the bowlers. A delivery is tagged full length when it pitches near the batter’s legs. When pace bowlers bowl this length in the early part of the innings, they can be difficult to counter by the batter as the bowl exhibits swing in those overs. However, as the ball wears out with the progression of the innings, a full length delivery is a gift for the batter as the trajectory of the ball becomes more predictable and an aerial shot is easier to execute. Oftentimes, an attempted yorker or a full length delivery leads to the bowler unintentionally bowl a full toss (a delivery where the ball reaches the batter without pitching). This is another reward for the batter where they can free their arms to dispatch the bowl in the desired direction. Furthermore, if this ball reaches the batter above the waist, it will be signaled no ball, and a free hit is inflicted as well.
Mastering a full length delivery that pitches away from the batter but within the wide lines is a tactic that has been used by bowlers since the advent of T20 cricket. This is seen in the death overs where such a delivery can be difficult for the batter to reach and flow of runs is restricted. However, if uncontrolled, this delivery not only results in a wide, but may also be difficult for the wicketkeeper to collect, resulting in extra runs.
The length of a ball when combined with the line at which it is directed describes a single delivery. Variations in these line and lengths defines a bowler’s control over the ball across different surfaces.
