Sachin reveals how he improved his skills
Sachin Tendulkar revealed how he used to practise by tapping the tennis ball on one side to hone his skills of countering reverse swing. Sachin Tendulkar, widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen to have played the game, revealed how he worked on improving his skills of countering reverse swing.
He focused on adjusting his stance and timing, studying bowlers’ actions, and refining his technique to handle the late movement effectively. This strategic approach helped him excel against challenging reverse swing deliveries.
Tendulkar played in an era when fast bowlers like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and others ruled the cricketing world with their reverse swing but the Indian legend found a way to outperform them. The Indian batting legend ended his career as the highest run-scorer in international cricket, scoring 100 centuries across formats.
He made a few changes to his technique during his career to dominate bowlers of different generations. The Master Blaster revealed how he used to practise by tapping the tennis ball on one side to hone his skills of countering reverse swing.
Used to tape the ball from one side
During my playing days I used to tape the ball from one side. In seasoned (leather) balls we see shiny and rough side and in tennis ball we put tape on one side and I used to practise reverse swing to face it in international cricket, Tendulkar was quoted as saying by Times of India. The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL), a T10 cricket tournament, has also brought a new twist in its new season by introducing reverse swing with a tennis ball.
Batsman’s technique will be tested in ISPL
Sachin Tendulkar, who is a member of the core committee of ISPL, feels that the introduction of reverse swing will test the technique of batsmen. I thought why not introduce it in this format and if it is implemented then the technique of batsmen will also be tested. If we are giving some advantage to batsmen then bowlers should also be involved in the game.
ISPL is about giving a platform to those who have not got a chance to showcase their talent. This tournament has brought the joy of the game to a new audience and opened doors for young cricketers across the country. I hope the league continues to grow and make a lasting impact on Indian cricket, giving every player a chance to dream big.
The country’s first tennis ball T10 cricket tournament
The ISPL, the country’s first tennis ball T10 cricket tournament played inside a stadium, is all set for its second season which will begin from January 26 to February 9, 2025 at the Dadoji Konddev Stadium. Normally the new ball swings in the opposite direction of the shiny side, which is normal swing, however, reverse swing comes into play when the ball gets quite old. Bowlers use reverse swing to trick batsmen into thinking that it is normal swing.
When the ball starts to reverse, it moves in the direction of the shiny side, which is exactly opposite to normal swing. During Tendulkar’s era, top reverse swing bowlers like Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, James Anderson, Dale Steyn were also at their peak. To deal with such top fast bowlers, Tendulkar had to find a way to deal with reverse swing.
Testing batsman’s technique too
I thought why not introduce it in this format and if it is implemented then the batsman’s technique will also be tested. To make the tennis ball reverse swing, it will be taped on one side and this has been done to bring bowlers on a par with batsmen, says the 51-year-old.
If we are giving some advantage to batsmen then bowlers should also be involved in the game. Tendulkar, who is also a core committee member of the ISPL, hopes that the competition will continue to grow and open doors for young cricketers across India.
This tournament has brought the joy of the game to a new audience and opened doors for young cricketers across the country. I hope the league will continue to grow and make a lasting impact on Indian cricket, giving every player a chance to dream big.
Tendulkar’s vision for ISPL and young cricketers
Tendulkar expressed his vision for ISPL, saying that the tournament is about providing a platform to those who want to showcase their talent. He hopes that the league will continue to have an impact on Indian cricket. The second ISPL season will run from January 26 to February 9, 2025 at the Dadoji Konddev Stadium in Thane.
Conclusion
Legendary Indian cricketer and the greatest batsman to have ever graced the cricket field, Sachin Tendulkar, recently revealed his way of dealing with reverse swing bowling. Reverse swing is a special art of bowling, in which it becomes almost impossible for an amateur level batsman to predict the swing direction of the ball.
