The Rise of the Length Ball in the Death Overs: A New Era in ODI and T20 Bowling
In the high-octane world of ODI and T20 cricket, the death overs have long been a battleground where bowlers have struggled to contain the onslaught of powerful batters. The mantra of “don’t bowl length” has been ingrained in the minds of commentators and experts, who have witnessed countless balls disappearing into the stands in the closing stages of matches.
However, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 has witnessed a paradigm shift in bowling strategies. Bowlers have rediscovered the effectiveness of the three-quarter length ball, a delivery that has traditionally been considered a safe option but has now become a potent weapon in the death overs.
On expansive grounds like Jaipur, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Mullanpur, the hard length ball that is driven into the wicket with fielders guarding the square boundary has proven to be a highly effective non-boundary ball. Unlike the tailing yorker that often steals the limelight, this unglamorous delivery has become the bowlers’ go-to option, especially in the end overs.
The rise of the length ball can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, batters have become increasingly adept at anticipating and executing the yorker, standing deep in the batting crease to negate its effectiveness. This has led bowlers to explore alternative strategies, and the length ball has emerged as a viable option.
Secondly, the length ball allows bowlers to maintain a higher error rate in execution. Unlike the yorker, which requires pinpoint accuracy, the length ball can be bowled with a slightly wider margin of error and still be effective. This is crucial in the high-pressure environment of the death overs, where even a single mistake can prove costly.
Bowlers like Pat Cummins have demonstrated the effectiveness of the length ball by packing one side of the deep field with fielders and forcing batters to fetch the ball from the good length spot. Mitchell Starc, known for his swinging yorkers, abandoned that plan against Lucknow Super Giants in the end overs and found success at the Eden Gardens.
Kagiso Rabada delivered a masterclass in length bowling against Rajasthan Royals, almost engineering a heist for Punjab Kings. Other bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mayank Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Mustafizur Rahman, and Kuldeep Sen have also used the yorker sparingly and relied on the length ball.
As the IPL season progresses and wickets become more tired, the length ball is expected to yield even greater dividends for bowlers. Its ability to restrict boundaries and maintain a higher error rate in execution makes it a valuable weapon in the battle against the modern-day batter.
