Can you help a young spin bowler to improve?

Recently we were contacted by Jack who said:

"This season I've returned to leg spin. Occasionally I get criticised by our captain as I'm not "finishing off my action". I know that when I do, I get drift and dip, and take wickets. Could you have a quick look at my action in the attached video and see if you have any thoughts?"

This question was interesting to me because Jack didn't point out any problems he is having. Only a vague awareness that something might be wrong.

So I thought this would be an excellent challenge for the PitchVision community to discuss.

What can Jack do to improve his action?

Vaibhav has a question:

"I wonder if there is any way to practice improving reflexes against a fast bowler's release?"

There are many ways to improve your reflexes, but not many of them will make a difference against a fast bowler.

That's because the reason you are slow to pick up line and length is not the result of slow reflexes.

Menno Gazendam is author of Spin Bowling Project. Get your free 8 week spin bowling course here

Hardik enrolled on my course, and had a follow up question:

"I used to spin a ball big, but then I tried to learn the wrong one. So I kept practising but then I lost my leg spin. How do I get that my leg spin back and then learn to bowl wrong one?"

Oh boy. That does not sound good!

Think about the phone you owned 7 years ago. I'm willing to bet that it didn't do much more than be a phone.

Then the iPhone arrived.

Since then, think about how much mobile phones have progressed. They are now small computers that many people rely on to run their lives. I know I do. It's evolved fast.

This week's winner of the Cricket Show podcast question competition is Jittu. He wins a free coaching course from PitchVision Academy.

The winning question was:

"ECB have changed the way that coaches get qualified, and I was wondering what difference this makes for someone who wants to get into coaching. I helping coach youngsters at my local club but eventually I want to coach older players, so which way is best for a coach who wants to be an “all rounder”?"

Listen to the panels answer to his question here.

To enter your own question for the chance to win your choice of online coaching course send your questions in here.

Welcome to the PV/VIDEO Digest, your highlights summary of the weeks best videos from PitchVision Interactive

You can share these videos by email or onto facebook, and post your comments right here: From serious analysis to Friday fun. Here are the top 5 videos uploaded from PitchVision systems around the world this week.

We get up close and personal with David Hinchliffe, Mark Garaway and Burners this week, as we hear from the experiences of the team. There is great discussion on coaching, getting out of a batting rut and looking after your hands as a keeper.

Plus Garas gives us a detailed look at the new ECB coaching structure, and what it means for coaches at every level in every country. Don't miss out on this insight from one of the guys who helped develop the cutting edge structure.

Download the show or listen in your browser.

I have a confession. I hated bowling machines as a player. I wasn't alone. Yet others loved the same thing. It really is the Marmite of cricket practice.

I found it really difficult to get the timings of my movements right and often found myself rushed and off balance at point of contact. It became very frustrating when others were enjoying every bowling machine session.

Let's talk about "old school" coaching.

What's that?

It's high on my mind recently because of the appointment of Darren Lehmann to the Australian coach position. He has been sold in the media as the "non nonsense, straight talking" option. He's not about powerpoint presentations, an injury potential matrix or any other modern coaching term. In other words, he is old school.

A lot of people are screaming in celebration that common sense has returned to coaching.

Me, I'm not so sure.

Menno Gazendam is author of Spin Bowling Project. Get your free 8 week spin bowling course here

As part of my course, I ask readers to send in their questions. Here is one problem I got from Ihsaan that many other bowlers experience: