Short-Pitched Bowling in Cricket Explained
What short-pitched bowling is, how it differs from the bouncer, the rules governing it, and why it is used as a tactical weapon in Test cricket.
What Is Short-Pitched Bowling?
Short-pitched bowling is a general category of deliveries that pitch in the back half of the pitch (more than approximately 6 metres from the stumps) and rise towards the batter's body. Bouncers are the extreme form of short-pitched bowling — rising to shoulder or head height. A short-of-a-length delivery (or 'short ball') rises to the hip or rib cage and is the most common type of short-pitched delivery.
Types of Short-Pitched Delivery
- Bouncer: pitches short, rises sharply to chest/shoulder/head. Most aggressive form.
- Short of a length: rises to hip or rib cage. Tests technique without being as dangerous.
- Short: rises to mid-torso. Common stock delivery for attacking pace bowlers.
- Back of a length: halfway between good length and short — designed to cramp the batter.
Why Short-Pitched Bowling Works
Short-pitched deliveries work for several reasons: they prevent batters from getting forward to drive (the fundamental Test batting technique); they test the batter's technique against pace and lift; they create discomfort and physical risk that affects batter concentration; and they force the batter onto the back foot, setting up full-length deliveries later in the spell.
Regulations
The ICC regulates short-pitched bowling through bouncer limits (two per over in Tests, one in T20s and ODIs). The umpires can also warn a bowler for 'persistent' short-pitched bowling directed at a batter who is clearly unable to play it safely, under Law 41 (Unfair Play). Intimidatory bowling directed at tail-enders is specifically addressed in ICC Playing Conditions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a short ball and a bouncer?
A bouncer rises to shoulder or head height. A short ball (short of a length) rises to the hip, rib cage, or chest. Both are short-pitched, but a bouncer is more extreme and subject to per-over limits.
Can spinners bowl short-pitched deliveries?
Yes — spinners can bowl short balls. They don't rise as sharply as a pace bowler's bouncer, but spin bowlers occasionally use a shorter-pitched ball to surprise a batter who expects the standard flight. Anil Kumble used short balls at pace occasionally.
Is short-pitched bowling banned in women's cricket?
Short-pitched bowling is allowed in women's cricket but has stricter bouncer-per-over limits in some competitions. The ICC's playing conditions for women's cricket include protective measures that reduce the risk of injury from aggressive short-pitched bowling.