Malcolm Marshall's cutters

[Ant Knee]

Malcolm Marshall had such good off and leg cutters that I imagine he had a unique grip or action. Does anyone know what that was?

 

[ArmBall]

Well, I've got a copy of Malcom Marshall's Bowling and Fielding Skills due to be delivered shortly (probably had to restock) , so I'll let you know ASAP

 

[Burgey]

I believe Dennis Lillee taught Marshall how to bowl the leg cutter on Malcolm's first tour of Australia.

The fast bowlers' union is strong.

 

[kyear2]

I believe Dennis Lillee taught Marshall how to bowl the leg cutter on Malcolm's first tour of Australia.

The fast bowlers' union is strong.

Very, they all shared and passed down skills and techniques to each other

 

[ArmBall]

Here you go, straight from the great man himself - he does indeed big up Dennis, along with Alec Bedser.

 

[Arachnödouche2.0]

What's to learn? You simply roll your forefingers down either side of the seam

I always felt Lillee and Danny Morrison's actions were perfectly geared for bowling leg-cutters. I copied both and lost my own in the process but very easy to slide your fingers down the left half of the ball with those two.

 

[ankitj]

Here you go, straight from the great man himself - he does indeed big up Dennis, along with Alec Bedser. View attachment 48068

Yeah what's the insight? Everyone knows which direction to roll fingers. It's about the ability to do it with control and pace.

 

[Aritro]

I thought it might have been the inswinger that Lillee taught Marshall, if I remember what I read in Mark Nicholas's book right

 

[Burgey]

What's to learn? You simply roll your forefingers down either side of the seam

Indeed!

Rarely see a genuine leg cutter these days.

 

[Burgey]

Yeah what's the insight? Everyone knows which direction to roll fingers. It's about the ability to do it with control and pace.

By this reasoning there’s nothing to any cricketing skill.

I mean it’s kind of implied if someone is teaching you how to do something they’re teaching you to do it competently rather than for example just saying “roll your fingers over the top of the ball as you bring your arm over. That’s it. Congrats you’re now a leg spinner. Enjoy your test debut.”

 

[honestbharani]

roll your fingers over the top of the ball as you bring your arm over. That’s it. Congrats you’re now a leg spinner. Enjoy your test debut.”

I mean, it worked for Cameron White and 2010 Steve Smith.

 

[shortpitched713]

Indeed!

Rarely see a genuine leg cutter these days.

It's harder to bowl, less natural grip and follow through. Kind of like the screwball in baseball which has basically died.

You need more velocity on these cutter deliveries to trouble modern day batsmen, which I think traditionally may have been bowled with a bit more pace taken off of them. And awkward delivery may not really work at that higher velocity.

 

[ankitj]

By this reasoning there’s nothing to any cricketing skill.

I mean it’s kind of implied if someone is teaching you how to do something they’re teaching you to do it competently rather than for example just saying “roll your fingers over the top of the ball as you bring your arm over. That’s it. Congrats you’re now a leg spinner. Enjoy your test debut.”

Looks like you agree with me. That picture alone has little insight. If someone trains you on the field over a period of time there's going to be lot more to it.

 

[ankitj]

It's harder to bowl, less natural grip and follow through. Kind of like the screwball in baseball which has basically died.

You need more velocity on these cutter deliveries to trouble modern day batsmen, which I think traditionally may have been bowled with a bit more pace taken off of them. And awkward delivery may not really work at that higher velocity.

Venkatesh Prasad bowled leg cutters with some success. His pace was already very modest so I believe he didn't have to cut down the pace with his cutters.

Haven't seen many pace bowlers in recent times try leg cutters. Off cutters are more common; Bumrah bowls them often.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Obed McCoy bowls back-of-the-hand slower balls.

Naveen-ul-haq as well (?)

 

[Burgey]

Venkatesh Prasad bowled leg cutters with some success. His pace was already very modest so I believe he didn't have to cut down the pace with his cutters.

Haven't seen many pace bowlers in recent times try leg cutters. Off cutters are more common; Bumrah bowls them often.

Yeah nowadays I think it’s more about angling the seam and hitting it than bowling cutters per se. That clip of McGrath mic’ed up bowling to Warner in that T20 being a good example

 

[Coronis]

By this reasoning there’s nothing to any cricketing skill.

iirc some cranky old bloke on here has this exact sentiment about off spinners