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Tony Gray: Address our fast bowlers? problems
Cornfused
2015-03-26 11:30:36
By STEPHON NICHOLAS Thursday, March 26 2015
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FORMER TRINIDAD and Tobago and West Indies pacer Tony Gray believes there are serious issues that need to be addressed among the regional fast bowlers who have failed to carry on the illustrious history of Windies quicks since the glory days of Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall and Andy Roberts to name a few.
The maroon-clad team looked anemic at the ICC World Cup, limping into the quarter-finals with bullish wins over the inconsistent Pakistan, Zimbabwe and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before running out of life versus New Zealand in the knockout round.
On the bouncy pitches in Australia and New Zealand, pace has been the main threat at the World Cup but minus Jerome Taylor, the Windies fast bowlers have shown themselves incapable of posing a threat to quality batsmen.
Andre Russell, the second leading wicket-taker behind Taylor, finished the tournament with an unimpressive 11 wickets from seven matches with an economy rate of 6.35. Next best was captain Jason Holder who had just nine wickets with four of them coming against the UAE hardly effective with the red cherry in hand. Bajan Kemar Roach, once the best bowler in the region, had an absolute nightmare with the ball, taking just one scalp from three matches and was the regions most expensive fast bowler at 6.81.
But Gray, who represented the region from 1985-1991 and also played county cricket in England for Surrey, believes the accuracy problems of the regional bowlers can be fixed.
Its a regional situation and each fast bowler and medium-fast bowler has his own specific issues that need to be worked on, said Gray. Andre Russell consistently doesnt have his stride patterns going...sometimes he will balanced at the time of delivery and sometimes he will not be. He doesnt have the consistent run-up speed like (Curtly) Ambrose or Michael Holding or Courtney Walsh. What he needs is a consistent run-up speed.
The captain Holder, he collapses the front leg and back leg so he doesnt maximise his height. He doesnt brace that front leg so he doesnt get the speed.
You look at Roach, he depends heavily on his bowling action which is a fantastic bowling action but he doesnt have a run-up. He ambles up rather than runs through the crease. A lot of times he gets injuries because he doesnt alleviate the pressure on his body at the point of delivery because he doesnt have a run-up. There are specific issues with our fast bowlers that need to be rectified, he declared.
Gray, who took a sensational six for 50 against Australia at the Queens Park Oval in a One Day International on their 1991 tour, also delved into the problems of another Trinidadian Shannon Gabriel. The burly pacer has shown immense promise since making his First Class debut in 2010. His early form had caught the eyes of regional selectors who rewarded him with a call-up to the West Indies team but with just 25 wickets from 11 Tests, he has not exactly blown them away.
His returns this Regional Four Day season (13 wickets from six matches) have also been disappointing with Marlon Richards (27 wickets from 10 matches) eclipsing him as the premier pacer in the team. One of the problems I have is we dont work our fast bowlers in the right way. Shannon Gabriel obviously has to learn certain things but he is willing and a hard worker. We have to be specific with the cause with each one of our fast bowlers. I have had Marlon Richards for five years at UTT; Shannon Gabriel was in our fielding workshop at UTT that was about five years ago but Shannon Gabriel needs specific help and drills.
Its not a question of me being disappointed with Shannon Gabriel but a question of him getting specific people to work with him year-round. Its a technical issue that needs to be handled in the right way.
He needs to get his body aligned thats all he needs to do. Get his body straighter with the head straight down the wicket and hes going to bowl better. Hes going to hit the seam a bit more, he ended
from trinidad newsday
Walco
2015-03-26 11:38:01
In reply to Cornfused
You look at Roach, he depends heavily on his bowling action which is a fantastic bowling action but he doesnt have a run-up. He ambles up rather than runs through the crease. A lot of times he gets injuries because he doesnt alleviate the pressure on his body at the point of delivery because he doesnt have a run-up.
Oh boy. Guess Tony does not remember that Roach had to slow down his runup to resolve his no-ball problem.
imusic
2015-03-26 13:05:25
In reply to Walco
Perhaps there's a way to resolve a no ball problem other than ambling in one's run up
allan
2015-03-26 13:24:05
In reply to Cornfused
everybody is an expert , until they get the job..
Disciple
2015-03-26 14:18:03
If Gabriel can only take 13 wickets in 6 matches in dungheap FC cricket, where teams are missing their WI players, how much will he take against England in tests?
imusic
2015-03-26 14:42:55
In reply to Disciple
That would be a good point,
Except
Performances in our FC cricket are hardly an indicator of success or lack thereof in international cricket.
Cummins and Brathwaite took 18 and 19 wickets rspectively in the same competition and were also selected, while Peters (37 wickets) and Matthew (31 wickets) were not.
Devon Smith routinely tops the batting averages in our FC cricket yet fails just as routinely in international cricket
don1
2015-03-26 15:00:47
In reply to imusic
Maybe that just highlights our poor selection process, and Gabriel should no have been selected above others this time around.
Chally1
2015-03-26 15:06:51
In reply to Cornfused
Best Bowling coach in the region... Tell it as it is Tony...
I hope Philo hire you to be our bowling coach.
imusic
2015-03-26 16:07:55
In reply to don1
Perhaps. If that's the case, then our team against england would be as follows:
Brathwaite
Devon Smith
Brooks
Hope
Chanderpaul
Chase
Dowrich
Permaul
Warrican
Mervyn Matthew
Peters
bowling lineup against England would be Permaul, Bishoo,
imusic
2015-03-26 16:09:11
In reply to Chally1
He may know his stuff, but I'll never forget how Tony Gray severely overworked an already injured Ravi Rampaul at U 19 level
BeatDball
2015-03-26 17:21:35
Subliminal messages have to be disseminated to the region's young men or just plain direct communication, like what H n H did - we don't need spin, but pace like fire!!!
Walco
2015-03-26 17:25:18
In reply to imusic
Perhaps there's a way to resolve a no ball problem other than ambling in one's run up
Perhaps, but I think in Roach's case they have all been tried and this is what he's comfortable with. Personally, I don't get it when it comes to guys with no-ball problems. The solution seems so simple.
Commie
2015-03-26 17:38:03
In reply to Chally1
Who has Gray produced?
imusic
2015-03-26 17:49:15
In reply to Walco
It does seem simple.....but it may likely be down to rhythm. Once you get into a certain rhythm (habit), it's tough to unlearn that rhythm/habit, learn a new one, and be comfortable AND effective
Baje
2015-03-26 17:57:15
A good point made by Tony Gray is that a year round effort is needed. That is what is lacking with our playrs. Hopefully the professionalization drive through retainers will alleviate this problem.
Walco
2015-03-26 18:00:15
In reply to imusic
I remember seeing Roach bowl no-ball after no-ball without once moving back his mark. I also remember The Trail posting on here that Gibson advised Roach to stop trying to bowl those deadly yorkers he used to have because that delivery resulted in too many no-balls. In fact I have a vague recollection of Roach yorking someone with a no-ball in an international match. You are right though, rhythm is critical.
BeatDball
2015-03-26 19:36:28
In reply to Baje Hmmm, sounds good.
Headley
2015-03-26 23:09:14
In reply to Walco
I remember seeing Roach bowl no-ball after no-ball without once moving back his mark.
I wish Roachie all the best but if he has to survive because of logic he may not make it.
Chally1
2015-03-26 23:35:40
In reply to imusic
He may know his stuff, but I'll never forget how Tony Gray severely overworked an already injured Ravi Rampaul at U 19 level
May be he needs to be forgiven
mikelegend
2015-03-27 04:06:06
Absolutely spot on about Roach!!!!! I've been talking about that lethargic run up for years!!!!
amedatman
2015-03-27 08:54:52
Or maybe, just maybe our cricketers, and especially our bowlers are uncoachable. I think it is more the latter!
SirGarny
2015-03-27 11:38:14
In reply to mikelegend
He's absolutely spot on about Holder too
The captain Holder, he collapses the front leg and back leg so he doesnt maximise his height. He doesnt brace that front leg so he doesnt get the speed.
a complete waste of his physical gifts...
Isn't Ambrose the bowling coach?
Arawak
2015-03-27 11:49:15
In reply to Cornfused
Please do not copy/paste entire articles from the internet like this. Post a snippet, and the link. The people who write this stuff get paid by ad revenue, and deserve to get the traffic.
Thanks.
mikelegend
2015-03-27 15:52:08
In reply to SirGarny
Absolutely right about Holder too. Ambi appears to bring the passion, heart and will. However, I may have to admit that he is not the best technical of COACHes around. My choice without question would be IAN BISHOP!!!
Btw, check out Gibson's approach to the wicket and execution at the popping crease and compare it to that of Kemar Roach.
tc1
2015-03-27 16:25:47
In reply to mikelegend
Man, u all over the places, spin , spin, spin, u have stated many times that Ambi is doing a great job as coach.
coddy
2015-03-28 04:08:36
OK.....so you hope your fellow Trini gives you a coaching job with WI now....everyones aware now Tony....thanks
Cornfused
2015-03-28 12:53:54
In reply to Arawak
I note your comment but I am not here to take money out of anyone's pocket nor put it in. This article was from the Trinidad and Tobago news day as the link below the article directs. I am not sure what you mean by revenues as this is not a Frontline new paper in TnT. It is not now I have been posting on this an other sites and other sites with thousands of visitors per day . The method used here is fine. I sought no recognition or income and presented the data and it origin of the data . This does not breach any information legislation . Please be advised .
camos
2015-03-28 12:58:21
In reply to Cornfused
I think the protocol is to direct readers to the original site, because advertisers pay per viewer and you posting it here does not force us to visit the original site, so viewers are under counted.