Richard
Cricket Web Staff Member
Ideally, you always prefer a pitch with "good bounce" - ie, up the higher end of the spectrum. Bounce however isn't an on-off thing - you don't get "high bounce" and "low bounce" - it's a continuum. Personally I like a bouncy seamer, I like a bouncy turner, but I'd prefer have a low slow seamer than a bouncy non-seamer, as both bowler and spectator.
As for inconsistent or true bounce - well, personally I never want to see too many decks with uneven bounce, but it's a great shame if you don't get any. As a bowler, uneven bounce - which there is simply no way of producing with your own efforts, it depends entirely on the deck - is a great weapon to have, especially if you can bowl straight.
And as far as bounce under the control of the bowler rather than the deck is concerned - ie, the height that the bowler delivers from - well, clearly the more bounce you get the more potent any away-swing is going to be, and potentially the less potent any inswing is going to be. High bounce also has the advantage, however, of putting batsmen in two minds, meaning any sideways movement is more likely to make an impact as the batsman is less confident committing to the front-foot.
Again on a personal level, as a bowler who gets precious little bounce from my own short frame, the rare occasion you get to bowl on a deck with real bounce is a godsend. Completely transforms the game and is in fact very exciting.
As for inconsistent or true bounce - well, personally I never want to see too many decks with uneven bounce, but it's a great shame if you don't get any. As a bowler, uneven bounce - which there is simply no way of producing with your own efforts, it depends entirely on the deck - is a great weapon to have, especially if you can bowl straight.
And as far as bounce under the control of the bowler rather than the deck is concerned - ie, the height that the bowler delivers from - well, clearly the more bounce you get the more potent any away-swing is going to be, and potentially the less potent any inswing is going to be. High bounce also has the advantage, however, of putting batsmen in two minds, meaning any sideways movement is more likely to make an impact as the batsman is less confident committing to the front-foot.
Again on a personal level, as a bowler who gets precious little bounce from my own short frame, the rare occasion you get to bowl on a deck with real bounce is a godsend. Completely transforms the game and is in fact very exciting.