Sachin Tendulkar shares unique practice method to tackle reverse swing
Sachin Tendulkar, one of cricket's most celebrated batters, has disclosed his unique practice technique for handling reverse swing. The Indian legend used a tennis ball taped on one side to hone his skills against this challenging bowling style. Tendulkar, who owns over 34,000 international runs, explained the same during the launch of India's tennis ball T10 cricket tournament, the Indian Street Premier League (IPL) Season 2 in Mumbai on August 18.
Tendulkar's technique to combat reverse swing
Tendulkar explained his practice method, stating, "During my playing days, I used to tape the ball up from one side. In season (leather) balls, we look for the shiny and the rough side and in the tennis ball, we would apply tape on one side and I used to practice reverse swing to face it in international cricket." This technique was instrumental in his successful career against formidable pacers like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.
ISPL introduces reverse swing with tennis ball
The ISPL, a T10 cricket tournament, has brought in a new experiment for their upcoming season, the introduction of reverse swing with the tennis ball. Tendulkar, an ISPL core committee member, believes this addition will challenge batters' technique. He stated, "I thought why not introduce it in this format and if this is implemented then the batter's technique will also be tested."
Tendulkar's vision for ISPL and young cricketers
Tendulkar expressed his vision for ISPL, stating that the tournament is about providing a platform to those want to exhibit their talent. He hopes that the league will continue to have an impact on Indian cricket. The second ISPL season is set to run between January 26 and February 9, 2025, at the Dadoji Konddev Stadium in Thane.
Tendulkar conducts workshops to improve bowlers' skills
Initially, the ISPL bowlers struggled to generate reverse swing with the taped ball, which led to varied line and length. To address this, Tendulkar conducted workshops with coaches. He emphasized the importance trusting one's instincts and aiming for a specific spot when dealing with reverse swing. This was pivotal for bowlers to gain control and utilize the taped ball effectively.
What is reverse swing?
There are two types swing variations a pacer uses - conventional and reverse. Conventional swing or the primitive form of swing, mostly involves the use of seam on the new ball. The ball moves in whichever direction the seam is pointed at. Paradoxically, reverse swing occurs when the ball changes its trajectory from the original one and swings in the opposite direction.
An everlasting legacy!
Tendulkar made his international debut in the 1989 Karachi Test against Pakistan. The Pakistan seamers were at their best in that series. In the next 24 years, the Master Blaster attained more feats than one can imagine. He scored 15,921 runs from 200 Tests at a remarkable average of 53.78. The tally also includes a record 51 tons. Tendulkar also smashed 18,426 runs in 463 ODIs, and slammed 49 hundreds in the format.
