“Control and bounce” is the phrase has used while advising young pacers, and it remains the starting point for a coaching guide built around his MRF Pace Foundation work in Chennai and a two-day Rajkot camp on April 24 and 25, 2025.
The lesson is not to chase speed before skill. Young bowlers need a repeatable action, a clear plan for each batsman and a reliable backup delivery when the first option fails. That foundation matters more than copying a famous bowler’s release or run-up.
Mc Grath’s Core Bowling Principles
His coaching philosophy begins with bowling straight through the crease. The aim is to transfer energy towards the target while keeping the head, front shoulder and landing direction aligned. A young pacer should first record whether the ball is reaching the intended area before trying to add extra pace.
> “Control and bounce” should be the main weapons before raw speed. Bounce becomes more useful when it is produced from a stable action rather than forced by lifting the front shoulder or falling away. The bowler should work on landing the front foot consistently, keeping the wrist behind the ball and finishing towards the batter. This process helps create a repeatable line and length. The method also has a clear connection to the MRF Pace Foundation, where a 2014 report said the former Australia fast bowler signed a five-year role guiding India’s current and future fast bowlers. In Rajkot, he mentored 25 young pacers during a two-day camp in 2025. For more detail, see BBC Sport.
Build A Plan For Every Batsman
A young pacer should enter each spell with a specific target. That could mean attacking the top of off stump, using bounce against a batter who struggles to control the back-foot shot or setting up a yorker after several fuller deliveries. The key is to prepare a backup ball.
If the main delivery is being defended comfortably, the bowler needs another option rather than simply increasing speed. He has advised young bowlers to create a plan for each batsman and keep that second response ready. This approach also links with Ben Stokes and the wider question of workload and decision-making. A disciplined plan can reduce wasted deliveries, shorten spells under pressure and help a young bowler understand why a ball was selected.
Train The Yorker’s Skill Level
He has urged young bowlers to work more on their skill level, including getting back to bowling very good yorkers. The delivery should not be treated as a last-second surprise. It needs regular practice at the base of the stumps, with the same run-up and arm speed used for stock balls.
Begin with a simple target at the batter’s feet and judge success by the landing point, not by whether the ball swings late. Then vary the angle from around the wicket and over the wicket. The objective is accuracy under fatigue. The lesson complements Ben Stokes and the value of developing more than one method of attack. Young pacers should also understand when a yorker is safer than a short ball, especially when the batter is waiting deep in the crease.
Do Not Copy Bumrah’s Action
Jasprit Bumrah’s action is highly individual. He has said it is not something coaches should teach young bowlers to copy because it depends on natural ability and personal movement patterns. That warning is essential.
A young pacer can study Bumrah’s control, release point and tactical discipline, but should not force an unusual action onto a body that does not naturally support it. The safer route is to build a balanced movement pattern and seek qualified coaching if pain appears. Recent 2026 coverage also had him backing Prasidh Krishna as a future pace partner for Bumrah, with height, bounce and pace identified as his key strengths. The comparison shows that effective fast bowling can come through different physical profiles. Full coverage via BBC Sport Cricket.
Conclusion: Turn Technique Into A Repeatable Skill
For young pacers, Mc Grath’s message is direct: control comes before speed, bounce must come from balance and every batsman requires a plan. A reliable yorker and a backup ball then give the bowler options when the first idea fails.
The best training session should finish with one measurable question: did the ball land where the bowler intended? That focus is more valuable than copying a superstar’s action. For workload thinking, the Ben Stokes tactical comparison can add context, but the core work remains technical repetition.
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FAQs: Young Pacer Troubleshooting
Should young bowlers focus on speed first?
No. They should first develop control, bounce, a repeatable action and the ability to bowl a useful yorker.
Should a young pacer copy Bumrah’s action?
No. His action is highly individual, and he has specifically warned that it should not be taught as a standard model.
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