Why don't fast-bowlers bowl the yorker more often in Test cricket?

[mak36]

Watching the Ashes yesterday it was interesting to see Starc use the yorker to good effect. But it reminded me of an old age question: why don't bowlers bowl the yorker more often in Test cricket?

I appreciate it is supposed to serve as a surprise delivery but in recent times, unless the ball is moving around it is rarely used.

Why do you think that is?

Have bowlers missed a trick? Should bowlers use the yorker more often in Test cricket?

 

[Pakalulu]

It's the same reason that the cutter is hardly bowled in Tests. But the yorker is the dinosaur of cricket. Like alligators. They know.

 

[Taaya]

It is a high-risk delivery. If you miss the length slightly, it turns into either a half-volley or a full-toss. It can't be used consistently unless one is insanely accurate with yorkers - which most bowlers cannot be.

 

[R0H1T]

It is a high-risk delivery. If you miss the length slightly, it turns into either a half-volley or a full-toss. It can't be used consistently unless one is insanely accurate with yorkers - which most bowlers cannot be.

Yorker isn't high risk in tests, in fact it's arguably the most unexpected/under utilized delivery.

 

[Pakalulu]

Train a guy to bowl the yorker and he will master it

 

[mak36]

It is a high-risk delivery. If you miss the length slightly, it turns into either a half-volley or a full-toss. It can't be used consistently unless one is insanely accurate with yorkers - which most bowlers cannot be.

It's not any more high risk than bowling deliveries which encourage the batsmen to drive.

We are talking about professional sportsmen. Spending some time in the nets perfecting the art should improve accuracy.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Because batsmen establish their defence before offense in test cricket. It's very difficult to break through a test class batsman's defence through yorkers without pace or movement. Starc is a yorker specialist slinging them in at 90+.

It is in fact a high-risk delivery because most classic test fields are offside heavy with 2 to 3(unless deliberate) at most for safety on the legside. A gentle push is enough for the ball to run away as Stoneman has been showing.

In Starc's case, he's prepared to take that risk because he knows sooner or later they're gonna miss one if he keeps attacking the stumps. Facing 90mph bowling takes very high concentration and doing it throughout the day is draining. Starc simply plays the percentages, you miss, I hit and all the hard work down the drain. The few pretty boundaries that might've led to a confidence boost, you can forget about them.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Because batsmen establish their defence before offense in test cricket. It's very difficult to break through a test class batsman's defence through yorkers without pace or movement. Starc is a yorker specialist slinging them in at 90+.

It is in fact a high-risk delivery because most classic test fields are offside heavy with 2 to 3(unless deliberate) at most for safety on the legside. A gentle push is enough for the ball to run away as Stoneman has been showing.

In Starc's case, he's prepared to take that risk because he knows sooner or later they're gonna miss one if he keeps attacking the stumps. Facing 90mph bowling takes very high concentration and doing it throughout the day is draining. Starc simply plays the percentages, you miss, I hit and all the hard work down the drain. The few pretty boundaries that might've led to a confidence boost, you can forget about them.

Gem of a poster. Love reading this guy's posts.

But don't you feel bowlers try it way too little these days. A random boundary is not going to hurt them but they rarely even try.

 

[kingusama92]

The yorker doesn't offer considerable value in Test cricket.

In ODIs/T20s, you have guys looking to score at a higher pace and that means a looser technique. You can get under their bat. In Test cricket, they'll block away.

It's an "effort" ball best used as a surprise option by those who are good at it like Starc.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

Watching the Ashes yesterday it was interesting to see Starc use the yorker to good effect. But it reminded me of an old age question: why don't bowlers bowl the yorker more often in Test cricket?

I appreciate it is supposed to serve as a surprise delivery but in recent times, unless the ball is moving around it is rarely used.

Why do you think that is?

Have bowlers missed a trick? Should bowlers use the yorker more often in Test cricket?

The batsman at the highest level don't get beaten by pace in the air often. Even if the pace is in high 80's and early 90's that's why unless there is swing, the yorker doesn't go through.

Gem of a poster. Love reading this guy's posts.

But don't you feel bowlers try it way too little these days. A random boundary is not going to hurt them but they rarely even try.

It's not about a random boundary only, a yorker takes extra effort for the bowler. Knowing that you are going to be bowling 20 overs a day and stay in the field for about six hours, it becomes a risky strategy.

Also batters may get beaten on the speed from the pitch as the deviation is unpredictable but through the air, rarely ever happens.

 

[Buffet]

Test batsmen are not looking to score each ball. Yorker is harder when you are trying to score in ODI. It is used to stop batsmen to hit big. In the test format, you hardly need to score each ball and if your yorker goes wrong then ball will most likely travel to boundary in the test format due to filed setting.

I can personally attest that it's much harder to bowl yorker or bouncers if you are tired. It's fine to do it when you are bowling 4 overs.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Gem of a poster. Love reading this guy's posts.

But don't you feel bowlers try it way too little these days. A random boundary is not going to hurt them but they rarely even try.

Not the ones that are capable. The likes of Rabada, Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, Gabriel, etc. bowl them quite regularly. The rest either simply don't have the pace or control. While bowling quality is improving this decade, it is still not at the level of the 90s where there were a plethora of bowlers who had the ball on a string with pace behind it. So we are often judging by the highest standards in history, the current bowlers simply aren't as good. They are not idiots, they'd bowl it if they could.

 

[mak36]

Not the ones that are capable. The likes of Rabada, Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, Gabriel, etc. bowl them quite regularly. The rest either simply don't have the pace or control. While bowling quality is improving this decade, it is still not at the level of the 90s where there were a plethora of bowlers who had the ball on a string with pace behind it. So we are often judging by the highest standards in history, the current bowlers simply aren't as good. They are not idiots, they'd bowl it if they could.

This is what I wanted to ask. Even the ones fast enough to bowl it don't seem to to bowl it as much as they could.

That said, Rabada's yorker to Malan earlier this summer was something to behold. Holding was on commentary at the time and he could barely contain his excitement.

 

[mak36]

Because batsmen establish their defence before offense in test cricket. It's very difficult to break through a test class batsman's defence through yorkers without pace or movement. Starc is a yorker specialist slinging them in at 90+.

It is in fact a high-risk delivery because most classic test fields are offside heavy with 2 to 3(unless deliberate) at most for safety on the legside. A gentle push is enough for the ball to run away as Stoneman has been showing.

In Starc's case, he's prepared to take that risk because he knows sooner or later they're gonna miss one if he keeps attacking the stumps. Facing 90mph bowling takes very high concentration and doing it throughout the day is draining. Starc simply plays the percentages, you miss, I hit and all the hard work down the drain. The few pretty boundaries that might've led to a confidence boost, you can forget about them.

Good post.

Your last paragraph is exactly what I am getting at. There are others who are quick enough and yet they don't seem to bowl it as much. Starc seems to be one of the few who is willing to take that risk.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Good post.

Your last paragraph is exactly what I am getting at. There are others who are quick enough and yet they don't seem to bowl it as much. Starc seems to be one of the few who is willing to take that risk.

Such as?

 

[mak36]

Such as?

Let's look at Pakistan's bowling attack.

Would you say Amir uses it enough?

Hasan Ali picked up a couple of wickets with it against the Windies but used it sparingly in the SL series.

Obviously the UAE is a bowler's graveyard, but isn't that all the more reason to experiment? Even if it is just to put it in the back of the batmen's mind.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Let's look at Pakistan's bowling attack.

Would you say Amir uses it enough?

Hasan Ali picked up a couple of wickets with it against the Windies but used it sparingly in the SL series.

Obviously the UAE is a bowler's graveyard, but isn't that all the more reason to experiment? Even if it is just to put it in the back of the batmen's mind.

Hasan does. He's a specialist.

Amir is just a weird bowler. I don't understand his mentality. He has the capability but he's just on and off.

 

[mak36]

Marsh using it to good effect, with late movement.

 

[Mueez]

Marsh using it to good effect, with late movement.

Those were some very good yorkers bowled by Mitch.

Well-executed.