Bowling in cricket is an act that requires the player to master their skill over line and length. These two founding principles of professional cricket bowling determine the quality of the ball delivered.
Line refers to the direction where the ball is travelling with respect to the batter’s positions. The communication of a line in cricket is based on the stumps. Thus, a bowler can deliver a ball such that it’s line is outside the off stump, on the off stump, on the middle stumps, on the leg stump, or away from the leg stump.
Length on the other hand determines the stretched portion of the ball’s parabola after pitching. An overpitched ball is one where the ball pitches near the batter. A short pitched ball is one where the delivered ball poses as a bouncer, travelling above the batter’s shoulders.
At a distance of 6-8 metres from the stumps is the good length area. This is a relatively narrower portion of the pitch wherein if the ball pitches, gradually rises as it approaches the batter. The area of the pitch is the good length ball and the delivery is often referred as the length ball.
The length ball is of great value for the fact that it makes the batter think whether to play on the front foot or off the back foot. When bowled slightly outside the line of the off stump in the initial overs when the ball swings, it increases the chances of the batter knicking the ball, leading to a caught behind dismissal. If not hit, the bowler still has the added advantage of delivering a dot ball.
A length ball is thus a quality ball that promises a worthy challenge for the batter.
