LIVE and EXCLUSIVE Discussion with Coach Ian Pont

[MarvinDaMartian]

Hi Ian
Just a query ... can fast bowlers come back fully after shoulder injury (and operation) specially if it is the bowling-side shoulder.

Syed Russel had shoulder injury and after long break he came back but unfortunately was never able to bowl as before.

Rubel Hossain is also going through this stage now, and I am kind of worried if he would be able to come back or not.

[Ian Pont]

Originally Posted by MarvinDaMartian
Hi Ian
Just a query ... can fast bowlers come back fully after shoulder injury (and operation) specially if it is the bowling-side shoulder.

Syed Russel had shoulder injury and after long break he came back but unfortunately was never able to bowl as before.

Rubel Hossain is also going through this stage now, and I am kind of worried if he would be able to come back or not.

It does depend what the shoulder injury is and perhaps how it was caused. In Rubel's case it is a grade two slap lesion tear I believe. He should make a complete and full recovery after rehab and he is in great hands with physio, Vib Singh. Surgery is necessary normally for an injury of that type and whilst he will always have scar tissue there, I don't see why he can't be as good as new.

[Ian Pont]

Originally Posted by Kohli_Sox
I don't know what "avidlearner" from India as it seems commenting on that forum against Ian. I believe "avidlearner" is creating his own perception and trying to say whatever he's believing from that perception. Ian never applied for the job so why in the world he'd expect BCB to call him? Don't understand this point at all. Also if you see, Ian always have been positive about Pybus. Somewhere in between those were just jokes and humour about toughness of Pybus which is never a bad thing sometimes. People needs to clearly differentiate between humour and seriousness. At the moment "avidlearner" lacks it.

Also if you followed Shoaib Akhter and the way he went on all throught out his cricketing career, Shoaib is certainly not the type of guy who would talk about a guy if he didn't really help him. So try to atleast respect what Ian has done with some of the most quality fast bowlers around the world

Something I learned a while back is that many people do three things:

1. Believe what they want to believe
2. Hold opinions that are opposite to yours
3. Justify their viewpoint anyway they can

I do thank you for your kind comments, though.

[MarufH]

Originally Posted by Ian Pont
Something I learned a while back is that many people do three things:

1. Believe what they want to believe
2. Hold opinions that are opposite to yours
3. Justify their viewpoint anyway they can

I do thank you for your kind comments, though.

Ian - I'm just curious, how do you deal with people like that?

[Boomerang]

Ian, i have a general question. fast bowling in this part of the world is very tough and can be frustrating. also it shreds off cricket career due to injuries and other stuffs. how can i encourage a kid who has not yet set up his goal as a cricketer. thanks

[BD Rox]

Originally Posted by Boomerang
Ian, i have a general question. fast bowling in this part of the world is very tough and can be frustrating. also it shreds off cricket career due to injuries and other stuffs. how can i encourage a kid who has not yet set up his goal as a cricketer. thanks

A similar incident happened with my friend. He never played cricket since 2011 WC, and 1 day, we(friends) arranged a cricket match, and guess what, since then he is a damn cricket lover. Before that he never picked up a bat.
So, 1st you have to play, and then grow the passion in you. You can't force a person, until & unless he grows the passion in him. And I reckon Ian will guide you about fast bowling.

[Ian Pont]

Originally Posted by MarufH
Ian - I'm just curious, how do you deal with people like that?

You either ignore them or you persuade them with proof and facts.

Even two people looking at the same painting will have differing views. It takes a big man to admit he is wrong and change his mind. Then again, opinion sometimes isn't based on fact or reason or proof.

You guys know better than anyone that emotion isn't always logical.

[Ian Pont]

Originally Posted by Boomerang
Ian, i have a general question. fast bowling in this part of the world is very tough and can be frustrating. also it shreds off cricket career due to injuries and other stuffs. how can i encourage a kid who has not yet set up his goal as a cricketer. thanks

To be inspired you need to be excited by something. This means an Icon you can aspire to be like.

Before you take a holiday, would you want to see a brochure, look at a website or hear about the place you might be going to get excited? When you buy clothes you get ones you like, not just anything you see.

You have to have a passion for fast bowling and a desire to do it. So that requires wanting to be like the people you watch uprooting the stumps, having a fantastic time and everyone idolising them, plus saying to yourself I want that.

You have to build a fire inside someone first for them to be able to achieve any goal that's difficult. The key is inspiration.

[Tigers_eye]

Recently there were talks to be able to bowl two bouncers in an over. Do you think this would help our bowlers (FAAAAAST) on these placid wickets? Or they would get knocked around more? Is this rule coming from Australia-England? Is there any representation from the Asian block in the rule making committee? How come no rule changes to help out the spinners? Using two limited balls was another one that didn't help the spinners. These rules are forcing teams to have at least 3 fast bowlers (or two and a fast bowling alrounder) in their first 11. I think BD gets hurt the most. What are your thoughts? Thanks.

[Kohli_Sox]

Coach who are your favourite five fast bowlers of all time?

[BengaliPagol]

there is no point of this thread anymore because being 'exclusive' he basically answers all our questions on other threads as well.

[Ian Pont]

Originally Posted by Kohli_Sox
Coach who are your favourite five fast bowlers of all time?

Brett Lee
Dale Steyn
Shoaib Akhtar
Michael Holding
Richard Hadlee

I have been very fortunate to have played with Hadlee, played against Holding, coached Steyn and Akhtar. Lee has the best action of all time.

[Jadukor]

Coach what is your opinion of the new ODI rule changes?
In my view the new rules like two new ball, two bouncers per over and a maximum of 4 fielders allowed outside the 30 yard circle seriously lacks any supportive measure for spinners. Are pacers the main focus and spinners being sidelined with these changes? or do you think there is still scope for them to be equally effective ?

[Kohli_Sox]

Great to see you rate Brett Lee so high, I think he is one of the most underrated; might be the case his stats don't truly reflect his influence but a great bowler with a huge heart

[deshprem]

Originally Posted by Ian Pont
Brett Lee
Dale Steyn
Shoaib Akhtar
Michael Holding
Richard Hadlee

I have been very fortunate to have played with Hadlee, played against Holding, coached Steyn and Akhtar. Lee has the best action of all time.

they say the coaching clinincs/centres in aust worked on brett lee's action for 10 years while he was on his way to playing for aust.

[Ian Pont]

Originally Posted by deshprem
they say the coaching clinincs/centres in aust worked on brett lee's action for 10 years while he was on his way to playing for aust.

I don't know who 'they' are? I don't believe Lee's action was worked on for 10 years. He had this action 'naturally' and then changed due to stress fractures. This took about 18 months and it was a load up change.

Whenever Lee is asked about the technical part of his action he doesn't say anything that suggests his understanding is technically based. This would prove he is the one guy that has the most gifted action.

Lee's action is pretty much a fast bowling, bio-mechanics 'wet dream'. If it was down to Australian coaching, they would have produced another by now. The truth is, that is possible but the coaches are not sure how to do it. When you see Pat Cummings with such bowling action problems being left alone by coaches, I just wonder if the view in Australia is simply to leave alone until someone gets badly injured, then change it.

My view is however successful a bowler is, don't let that get in the way of improvement. We are all in the business of developing skills and talent - not just here to make actions safe when bowler breaks down

[Ian Pont]

Originally Posted by Jadukor
Coach what is your opinion of the new ODI rule changes?
In my view the new rules like two new ball, two bouncers per over and a maximum of 4 fielders allowed outside the 30 yard circle seriously lacks any supportive measure for spinners. Are pacers the main focus and spinners being sidelined with these changes? or do you think there is still scope for them to be equally effective ?

I think the ICC are trying to find ways to change things that just don't need changing.

[Kohli_Sox]

Hadlee used to skip at the start of his run, is that a more technical thing or just for rhythm?

[Zeeshan]

Coach,

I have a dumb question: Is long run-up really needed for medium paces to generate pace? I meant of course, one assumes the optimal scenario that players must be ripped like Steyn and in fine shape. But, what makes bowlers like Kallis so special?

I for one, don't like to run. Without getting too technical does there exist an optimal solution or balance between distance of run-up and speed where bowler doesn't use up much energy running and hence losing his energy to bowl?

Thanks Ian!

[Ian Pont]

Originally Posted by Zeeshan
Coach,

I have a dumb question: Is long run-up really needed for medium paces to generate pace? I meant of course, one assumes the optimal scenario that players must be ripped like Steyn and in fine shape. But, what makes bowlers like Kallis so special?

I for one, don't like to run. Without getting too technical does there exist an optimal solution or balance between distance of run-up and speed where bowler doesn't use up much energy running and hence losing his energy to bowl?

Thanks Ian!

Run up speed is important if you can transfer it into the body and into the ball. Running a long way or a short way isn't important. It is the SPEED of approach that's important. So the length of the run up isn't overly relevant for fast bowling, but some swear that it helps with their rhythm, so it a personal choice.

[Dhakablues]

Originally Posted by Kohli_Sox
Great to see you rate Brett Lee so high, I think he is one of the most underrated; might be the case his stats don't truly reflect his influence but a great bowler with a huge heart

Underrated? I personally doubt that.. I think he has been the best fast bowler from Australia after Gillespie and McGrath retired or even before that..Pundits do rate Lee equivalent to all time great fast bowlers. Even before retiring, he was clocking 140Km regularly unlike McGrath/Imran on their later years of career.As coach Pont says already, he did that 'naturally' and that's absolutely rare, these days!!

[Dhurr]

Coach Pont, have you ever tried Bangladeshi street food? IF you did, what was it? In fact, have you tried any Bangladeshi food at all? If you have, what are your favorites?

[Kohli_Sox]

Originally Posted by Dhakablues
Underrated? I personally doubt that.. I think he has been the best fast bowler from Australia after Gillespie and McGrath retired or even before that..Pundits do rate Lee equivalent to all time great fast bowlers. Even before retiring, he was clocking 140Km regularly unlike McGrath/Imran on their later years of career.As coach Pont says already, he did that 'naturally' and that's absolutely rare, these days!!

Underrated as in a sense of when picking fast men from all times; mostly I've seen names of Lillee, McGrath, Wasim, Marshall, Ambrose, Garner, Holding, Hadlee, Trueman, Lindwall these names coming up at top tier

[Jadukor]

Originally Posted by Kohli_Sox
Underrated as in a sense of when picking fast men from all times; mostly I've seen names of Lillee, McGrath, Wasim, Marshall, Ambrose, Garner, Holding, Hadlee, Trueman, Lindwall these names coming up at top tier

Look at Lee's test stats and you will know why

[BengaliPagol]

i loved watching his rhythmic bowling action. His action is hard for others to emulate meaning his action is natural.