5 Reasons why the bouncer is still relevant in ODI’s

The bouncer is often associated with bowlers of the 1970s, when the likes of Michael Holding inflicted mayhem in the opposition’s camp through a barrage of balls near the batsman’s head, so much so that Bishen Singh Bedi once had to withdraw his Indian team from the field due to injuries inflicted by the Caribbean pacers.

Since then, though, there have been changes to the rules of the sport to curtail the number of bouncers for safety reasons. Both Test and ODI cricket have limitations of two shoulder-height bouncers in one over. Previously one bouncer per over was allowed in an ODI, but since 2012, the limit has been increased to two bouncers.

Bowlers enjoy the smell of the leather, while it’s synonymous to nightmares for batsmen. Cricket, being predominantly a batsman’s game, levels the field for bowlers with the use of bouncers, especially in the limited overs formats.

The below reasons will give a fair idea of the relevance of bouncers in ODI cricket.

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#1 To keep batsmen on the back foot

A bouncer is one of the most effective ways to keep a batsmen inside the crease

In the ODI format, it’s imperative for batsmen to stamp their authority on the bowlers. As a result, batsmen either plant their feet forward or shimmy down the track to shape up their dominance towards the bowlers. Brendon McCullum fits in well as an example of a batsman who likes getting inside the bowler’s nerves.

The bouncer’s role comes in here. Some chin music along with a glare at the batsmen might turn the equation in favour of the bowlers. More than physical attributes, it’s the mental subterfuges that come into the fore. Batsmen make initial movements, which more or less give the bowlers an avenue into the batsmen’s mind.

It may not curb the batsmen’s instincts, but it’s enough to spin a web of muddle in their minds about taking bowlers for granted, never mind spicing up the contest.

#2 Tail-enders don’t like the chin music

It’s better to make the tail-enders experience the smell of the leather

Often, teams are seven or eight down in the dying stages of an innings in an ODI. In such a situation, tail-enders are either required to play out the full quota of 50 overs or get their team over the winning line. It’s instinctive of number 9, 10 and 11 to spank everything out of the park.

Tailenders always look for full pitched deliveries to pick the bones out of the leather, but what they don’t like is the ball whistling past their nose. The fact that they aren’t specialised batsmen makes them vulnerable to short-pitched bowling.

With the help of bouncers, bowlers can push them back and sneak in yorkers to either get them bowled or trap them dead in front of the stumps. Apart from picking up wickets, it keeps the run-rate down, much to the delight of the fielding unit.

#3 No choice but to counter bouncers with hooks and pulls

The hook and pull are ways of countering short-pitched stuff

In Test cricket, batsmen have the leeway of letting go of short-pitched bowling since the format is played with fewer risks. The ODI format requires the occasional flirting with danger. Taking on the short stuff is filled with risk, then again, the ODI format demands risk prone cricket.

The square leg and fine-leg add as cushions to bouncing out batsmen. They are boundary riders, but for short pitched bowling, they are catching positions. It’s a delivery that works effectively against batsmen of the subcontinent who don’t often find the ball near their face in pitches back home.

Bowlers with express pace and whose primary delivery is to bowl back-of-length can unleash the bouncer with success at regular intervals. No batsman likes the ball hitting the top of the bat and on the gloves.

A bit of grass and juice on the pitch only adds to the ball hurled on the middle of the pitch. It whisks up the confidence meter of the bowlers and pushes them to throw everything at the batsman.

#4 Slower bouncer is hard to get away

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan is one of the main architects of the slower bouncer

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan is a player who devised the slower bouncer and the delivery has grown leaps and bounds. In ODIs, where batsmen pre-meditate to demolish bowlers, this delivery comes in handy big time. Batsmen like pace on the ball as it becomes easier for them to time the leather with precision.

The slower bouncer presents ample time for the batsman to get into position, but they have to generate all the pace in order to get the ball to the boundary. Variation in pace is also of prime importance. The delivery becomes more useful if the difference in pace is much lower than the speed of the previous delivery.

For example, if a bowler delivers a 145 kmph thunderbolt and then follows it up with a 120 kmph slower bouncer, the chances of batsmen getting tangled increase to a great extent.

#5 ODI cricket is about expecting the unexpected

Bouncers can also be used to bluff the batsman

They can be lethal, but only if exercised in the right time. Cricket is a mind-game and oppositions always look to outplay each other. Bowlers deliver as per the field given to them. Batsmen take a look around the field and anticipate the line and lengths of the bowlers.

Apart from the general style of play, there is another ploy which can be applied by the bowlers on the batsman - bluffing the batsman. Generally, the short-pitched delivery is bowled with the square leg and fine leg on the boundary.

The field is set with the square-leg and fine-leg inside the circle, therefore when the batsman looks around the field, he will be led to believe that there is very little chance of genuine bouncers as there are no fielders in the deep to cut them off.

In such scenarios, a well-directed bouncer can send batsmen packing. While it’s a calculated risk on the part of the batsman, it’s also a ploy to get rid of batsmen. When a batsman or a partnership makes hay, then a strategical brilliance can make the fielding team claw their way back into a contest.