Check out the below video where Jimmy demonstrates to BBC breakfast his best bowling techniques.

James Anderson Asics Breakfast 24-08-10

This time I will be going through some basics – the grip and stance.

As a batsman it is essential that you have a good grip to enable you to play the full range of shots with control, power and precision.

Gripping the bat is a very individual thing and it is important you feel comfortable. The easiest way to find a comfortable grip is to lay your bat flat on the ground and then pick it up like an axe.

Your top hand (hand closest to the top of the bat) should grip the bat slightly harder than the bottom hand. With the bottom hand, your index and middle finger are important and the other two fingers are either gripping lightly or not at all.

In your stance your top hand should sit comfortably on the inside of your thigh. You should be relaxed with your feet about shoulder width apart. Your weight needs to be spread evenly across your feet with a slight bend in your knees.

Your head position is very important. Your eyes need to be level and your head should be still which will allow you  to watch the ball closely and react quickly.

If you do all of the above it gives you a great chance to execute your shots and time the ball well.

For me as a fast bowler the run-up is a vital part of my game. It helps with rhythm, helps generate pace and, importantly, helps you keep your front foot behind the crease line so as not to bowl no balls.

It is an extremely individual thing and they do vary from person to person. I have the same run-up today as I had when was 14/15 years old.

It is important you find a distance that is comfortable for you, Some people like to run in thirty yards and some half that. Mine is 15 strides from the back crease line (level with the stumps). It is something that, as with most things in cricket, you need to play around with it in the nets. Then once you are happy with it you can take it into a game. Some players use a tape measure so they know the exact distance.

As I mentioned earlier, your run-up helps with rhythm. The rhythm of your run-up is important because it affects what happens when you get to the crease and then, ultimately, affects the ball that you bowl. This also needs to be worked on in the nets.

You should try and run as smooth as you possibly can. This means don’t try and run too fast or too slow. Everyone has their optimum speed. You should also gradually increase the speed you run as you approach the crease, again not too much, just a gentle acceleration.

They are probably the strongest fielding team in the world and it is no coincidence that they have been very successful in recent years.

From my point of view, because I am a lower order batter, being strong in the field adds another dimension to my game.

It can also help with team selection.

If two players are of a similar standard, the better fielder of the two may well get the nod. It can be very important in 20 over and 50 over cricket when the captain will want eleven strong fielders in the team.

I think that one of the most important things about fielding is that you have to enjoy it. I love diving around for catches and sliding on the boundary to stop a four. The enjoyment makes even practicing fielding fun and practice is how you are going to get better.

Because I think fielding is so important I will be offering some hints and tips that I think will help you improve your fielding.

If you have any questions about fielding or anything cricket based please feel free to contact us.