If there’s one phrase to describe a yorker, I must say it’s a “winning weapon.” It’s used in death overs that prevent the batsman from scoring a run. Fast bowlers can naturally deliver it with less effort but mastering the skill can put the yorker to the next level. So if a yorker is a winning weapon, is it hard to bowl?

Even an expert can’t always bowl a perfect yorker. So, yes, it’s hard to bowl. But you can get better with practice. It’s just a matter of keeping your eyes on the goal, which is usually the stumps. You also need to learn how to release the ball at the right time.

To help you better understand why a yorker is hard to bowl, I go in-depth about it. You’ll learn how to bowl a perfect yorker, as well as whether six yorkers are possible in one over. Also, you’ll discover how a yorker becomes a bad ball.

Are yorkers hard to bowl?

A Yorker is considered one of the most difficult bowls to deliver. You need timing, focus, and a thousand hours of practice to master it. An incorrect calculation can lead to either a full toss or a half-volley, giving the batsman ease and giving the opponent a run.

So, how hard is a yorker? For Shoaib Akhtar, one of the fastest bowlers in the history of international cricket, to throw a yorker correctly, you have to lock your eyes, wrists, and body before throwing the ball. You must never look away from the target, and you must run in a straight line. This routine requires a lot of practice.

Eyes on the target

Though it may seem simple to focus your eyes on the target as you run, it’s not as simple as it sounds. Keep in mind that you’re running while keeping an eye on the target. A yorker’s target is the batsman’s toes, so you must keep an eye out for them. It is also smart to pitch under the bat. Any of these targets can lead to a successful york. 

Bowling a york requires great concentration. But you must also keep yourself as tall as possible while you run. Maintaining your body form is crucial to delivering the york correctly.

Fast and slow ball

While perfecting the yorker requires patience, it’s worth an effort. A yorker is one of the batsman’s pet peeves because it’s hard to hit. A yorker is typically bowled at a fast pace, making it difficult to hit. Yet, you can still win by bowling at a slower pace. It’s what happened to Jasprit Bumrah’s yorker. He delivered a knuckleball-like bowl, which tricked the batsman. However, the batsman received was a slow-speed yorker.

Can a bowler bowl 6 yorkers?

If there’s one person to ask about bowling six yorkers, it’s must be Jasprit Bumrah. In one of his interviews, he said that you need to mix your pace. You can’t be successful using yorker all the time. It’s true because bowling a yorker is hard to execute. Doing it consistently allows a batsman to hit a six.

Hard to execute

Bowling a yorker is hard to execute for several reasons. One of the reasons is the ball delivery. Too upward and too low ball delivery can result in full toss and half volley, respectively. A full toss is considered a bad ball because it’s easy to hit, which means the opponent team can score a run with a full toss. 

On the other hand, a half volley closely delivered gives ease to the batsman as he or she hits the ball. In this scenario, he or she does not need to move too far to drive the ball. A perfectly delivered half volley allows a batsman to dispatch it to the fence for a boundary. If the batsman is lucky, he or she can even hit a six. 

Hint to opponent

Another disadvantage of bowling six yorkers all the time can give a hint to the batsman about your strategy. If the batsman realizes that you are aiming for yorkers, he or she may change position to ensure that the next delivery will be dispatched to score a run. So mixing it up with another bowl is necessary.

How do you bowl a perfect yorker?

Bowling a york begins with the way you hold the ball. You can either choose between the bowl seam up or cross seam. Then decide if you’ll do a fast yorker, slow yorker, swinging yorker, or a toe crusher. As you run, keep your focus on the stumps, and keep the arm in the right position as you release the ball.

You probably realize by now that a lot is going on when you bowl a yorker. But those elements are just part of the equation. Mental skill is essential in this game. 

Yorker type

You must be strategic when choosing a yorker type. Fast yorker is commonly used, but a slow yorker can help you win the game like what Jasprit Bumrah did. A swinging yorker is another type that guarantees to win an over as well as the toe crusher. 

It’s also important to consider the batsman’s skill when selecting the york type. A skillful batsman can predict the swing of the ball just by looking at how you hold the ball. 

Focus on stumps

Focus on the stumps as you run. It’s the only constant you can see. Always look at the top of the stumps because it’s safer to be a bit more full than a little bit shorter. When you’re ready to release the ball, raise your arms and pop your chest on release.

Brand of the ball

It doesn’t matter if you use a Kookaburra, Dukes, or SG ball. You can achieve the perfect yorker through practice and focus. But if you’re playing for an event using a specific brand, it’s ideal to use the required brand.

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