Bowling Rotation: Managing Your Attack

The Art of Bowling Rotation

Effective bowling rotation maximizes each bowler's impact, manages workloads, exploits matchups, and maintains pressure throughout innings.

Opening Bowling Strategy

• Test: Best fast bowlers with new ball, attack for wickets
• ODI: Powerplay specialists, swing or pace bowlers
• T20: Wicket-takers in powerplay, can go for runs but take wickets
• Usually bowl 2-4 overs at start depending on format

First Change Bowlers

• Introduced after opening spell (overs 6-10 in ODI, 3-6 in T20)
• Often seam or swing bowlers maintaining pressure
• Can also be early introduction of spin
• Build on foundation set by openers

Middle Overs Strategy

• ODI (11-40): Spinners and medium-pacers contain, take wickets
• T20 (7-15): Mix of spin and pace, variations crucial
• Control run rate, create pressure for wickets
• Rotate bowlers based on batsman matchups

Death Bowling Selection

• Specialist death bowlers with variations and yorkers
• Usually fast bowlers or clever slower ball specialists
• Save overs of best death bowlers for final phase
• Sometimes bring back opening bowlers if skilled

Matchup-Based Bowling

• Left-arm bowlers vs right-hand batsmen (and vice versa)
• Spin vs batsmen weak against spin
• Pace vs batsmen struggling with speed
• Short ball specialists vs batsmen weak against bounce

Workload Management

• Test: Rotate fast bowlers, avoid over-bowling, use reverse swing late
• ODI: Maximum 10 overs per bowler, plan distribution
• T20: Maximum 4 overs per bowler, save best for crucial phases
• Avoid bowling spinners to set batsmen when dangerous

Strategic Bowling Changes

• Break partnerships with bowling changes
• Use surprise tactics (early spin, delayed new ball use)
• Bowl best bowlers when opposition's best batsmen in
• Keep some overs of strike bowler for emergencies
• Consider match situation, required run rate, pitch conditions