Part-time bowler

Part-time bowler – a batsman who has a limited set of attacking skills but can take the place of a bowler in special cases.

The Tactical Role of a Part-Time Bowler

There will be times in every match, regardless of the format, when the most important bowlers on the side are unable to stop the batsmen of the other team from accumulating runs at a quick pace. Castling is a strategy that the captain of the attacking side can use in the event that the situation takes a potentially dangerous turn. This strategy involves handing the bowler’s position to a player who is used to playing in a different position but is very capable of generating issues for the defense of the offensive team.

The part-time bowler is not just a position on the field, but also a tactic. This is due to the fact that linking batters who are capable of serving with confidence for at least five overs to the attack may not only provide diversity to the game, but it can also disturb an opponent who is slowly earning points.

In general, even the most skilled batsmen are tuned to a certain kind of strike and construct their own plan depending on their perception of the manner in which their opponent plays the game. Because of this, the arrival of a part-time bowler on the field presents a significant obstacle for a batter, since the batter is seldom prepared to make significant adjustments throughout the course of the game. It is more crucial to note that he does not have a complete understanding of the arsenal of part-time bowler strikes, which means that he will have to spend more time making judgments.

Best Part-Time Bowlers in International Cricket

The success of the offensive team is not guaranteed by the presence of a bowler who only bowls on a part-time bowling basis. If he does not routinely practice his serve, he runs the risk of coming up against an offensive batter on the field who will easily deal with him. It is extremely crucial that he get frequent training. In general, a part-time bowler is not likely to find success as a pitcher. However, there are certain exceptions to this rule, including the following:

• Kedar Jadhav, India. The player is more often referred to as an all-rounder, but he rarely acts as a bowler since captains resort to this measure only in desperate situations. A recognized master of hitting Рie Сhucker;
• Travis Head, Australia. He is better known as an effective batsman, but since his debut for the national team in 2016, captain Steve Smith has repeatedly asked the player to change his position. The reason is the ability to slow down the opponent’s batsman, knocking him off the rhythm;
• Glenn Maxwell, Australia. At the Part-time position, the bowler shows himself as a cold-blooded pitcher who is able to restrain the opponent for a long time. Despite the relatively modest statistics, he managed to record 45 wickets in 80 ODI matches;
• Kraigg Brathwaite, West Indies. An opening batsman, Brathwaite is renowned for his stability and a good eye. Unlike most of his colleagues, he often closed the attacking position in test matches for the national team (the best indicator is 6/29 in the match against Sri Lanka);
• Kane Williamson, New Zealand. One of the best batsmen of our time, Williamson also performed well as an off-spin bowler. Even though his technique is often called conservative, the player does not seem to want to change it since it allows him to reduce the loss of points to a minimum;
• Kieron Pollard, West Indies. He took 50 wickets in 101 ODI matches, which is an excellent indicator. At first, Pollard was not considered a real threat at the Part-time bowler position. Still, over time he managed to accumulate an impressive arsenal of innings that can stun even the most experienced batsman. Pollard is a master of mixing various techniques, which allows him to confuse batters;
• Joe Root, England. Like many players of the current national team, he is a versatile player. Captain Eoin Morgan rarely invites him to take the place of Part-time bowler, but the fact that this happens when the team is in a truly hopeless situation already speaks in favor of the player;
• Chris Gayle, West Indies. In the past, the player often played in the position of Part-time bowler, taking a total of 73 wickets in 103 test matches. He prefers fast pitches and does not twist the ball too much, although, at the same time, he has a high accuracy of hitting;
• Marlon Samuels, West Indies. He deservedly considered one of the best Part-time bowlers of the team. He is very careful on the serve and, at the same time, is able to give the ball a high speed, which makes him an extremely uncomfortable opponent. He is a master of Yorkers;
• Jean-Paul Duminy, Australia. Even though the player finished his international career some time ago, he is still called one of the most outstanding Part-time bowlers in history. Duminy was truly versatile and not only spun the ball well, but also effectively destroyed wickets.

It is noteworthy to note that players who close this position often become the subject of jokes, despite the fact that the part time bowler has the potential to deliver significant advantages to the organisation. A photo that was posted by the International Cricket Council in the year 2020 immediately became a meme compared the batter to a live power line.