First Thing To Learn About Reverse Swing Is To Know How To Use The Wind To Your Advantage – Shoaib Akhtar

Former Pakistan National Cricket Team express pacer Shoaib Akhtar has said that the first thing that needs to be learnt to get the ball to reverse swing is the use of wind for the advantage.

Shoaib Akhtar, who is regarded as one of the quickest bowlers to step foot in the international cricket arena, had the ability to reverse swing the ball brilliantly just like many Pakistan greats including the likes of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

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Meanwhile, the former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar shared the tips on how to get the reverse swing while speaking on Sportskeeda’s YouTube channel. He said that a pacer needs to increase his bowling speed to reverse swing the ball. He explained:

“The first thing to learn about reverse swing is to know how to use the wind to your advantage. Even if you are running in with the wind or against it, you must be able to send down the ball in a manner that it dips properly.”

“You need to increase your bowling speed to reverse swing the ball. Unless you add a couple of yards, the ball will not travel quickly enough.”

We used to make the shiny side heavier – Shoaib Akhtar

Former Pakistan pacer added that to get the reverse swing one side of the ball has to be roughed up and the other side has to be shiny. He said that he used to make the shiny side of the ball heavier. He stated:

“We used to make the shiny side heavier, so that there was additional weight on one side of the ball. When running in against the wind, the ball is sent down like an outswinger but, in the end moment, it tails in and becomes an incutter yorker.”

Shoaib Akhtar, who played 46 Tests, 163 ODIs and 15 T20Is for Pakistan, further said that extra pace is a crucial element to get the ball to reverse swing and the ball should be old enough to move. He said:

“There is a lot of science in the reverse swing. We used to utilize the crease at times, change our action and come across the stumps as well. The angle of reverse swing is very important. The amount of reverse swing also depends on how old the ball is. In a nutshell, extra pace is needed, and the ball should be old enough to reverse swing.”

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