With a wide array of experience as a player and coach over nearly 40 years, Sanjeev Sharma has seen the transformation of fast bowling to be convinced that speed is not everything.
If you want to play for India, the first priority is, you should bowl at 140. I think if you have skills along with 140, then it’s very good,” the Delhi bowling coach told The Hindu during his team’s Ranji Trophy opener against Bengal here. “When I was the coach of Jammu & Kashmir, there were several players who could bowl at 140-plus.
“Fast bowling is different now. But they didn’t have the skills. The ball didn’t move. When you play in India, you don’t get enough bounce. You should know when to bowl which delivery.”
The batter easily picks you,” said Sanjeev who also played as a professional in Ireland, England, Bangladesh and the USA for a number of years besides serving as a coach in Fiji, Thailand, Bangladesh and the US apart from working as the chief coach of Ranji sides such as Vidarbha, J&K, Delhi, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. A smooth action, top-level endurance, good memory and game sense are essential for a bowler, according to him. “You should analyse the conditions, backlift of the batter and what the scoreboard says.