Allan Border: Popularity of slower ball bouncer a sign of rapid innovation in cricket

THE slower ball bouncer is a prime example of the rapid rate with which tactics in all forms of cricket are evolving, writes former Test captain Allan Border.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 28: Andrew Flintoff of the Heat celebrates a wicket during the Big Bash League match between the Brisbane Heat and the Melbourne Stars at The Gabba on December 28, 2014 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

IF fast bowlers under my captaincy had bowled a ‘’slow’’ bouncer, I probably would have dragged them from the field!

At the start of my career, we didn’t really even have slower balls although guys like Steve Waugh and Simon O’Donnell ended up bowling them brilliantly.

These days, the game and its tactics are virtually unrecognisable from when I played.

CULTURE: DOGGETT’S DETERMINATION TO LEARN

For instance, I thought I had lost my marbles when some of the Brisbane Heat fast bowlers were talking about bowling slower bouncers.

Freddie Flintoff didn’t even know what they were and he only retired from international cricket five years ago.

But the off-speed, or slow, bouncer has become a real weapon in the Big Bash, especially for those bowlers who normally bowl in the 140km/hr range.

It is not only the tactics of cricket that have changed but also the preparation for matches.

Before playing in Hobart last night, the Brisbane Heat lads had what they call a “priming’’ session.

It is basically a light gym session on the day of a game, which has been developed around some new sports science coming out of the USA.

It would have been unheard of only a few years ago but the data shows that “priming’’ can help performance, as long as you get six hours break before you play.

It is this sort of attention to detail which shows just how much the game has moved forward.

The professionalism of today’s players is also so much better than ever.

I have been so impressed with Freddie and the way he goes about his cricket is fabulous at age 37.

He was the last to leave the practice nets in Hobart and his dedication and enthusiasm for playing the best possible cricket is obvious.

His improvement with the Brisbane Heat has been remarkable because it is not as if he just took six months off and then returned to the game.

People forget that Freddie hadn’t played top-level cricket in ages before last year.

I take my hat off to him for putting his reputation on the line and making a huge effort to get his skills back to somewhere near where they were.

EMOTION TEST

THE Sydney Test will be an extremely emotional one, played on the ground where the Phillip Hughes tragedy struck.

Australian players are already talking about how they will cope with being back in the SCG dressingrooms and back in the middle at the famous ground.

It seems to me these Aussie guys are very strong characters who won’t be sulking around too much.

They will all want to put in a big performance at the SCG to honour their fallen mate.

GREAT SHAPE

The game of Test cricket is in very good shape at the moment, with scoring rates generally rollicking along at about 3.5 runs an over.

There are almost always results these days, so much so that people were scratching their heads when there was a rare draw in Melbourne.

But to be honest the MCG pitch was pretty flat, plus there was some rain involved.

Test players from most countries have really bought into playing an attacking brand of cricket and just about every Test these days is fantastic to watch.