‘I’ve Been Working Hard on It’ – Tim David Shares His Efforts to Improve Leg Spin

As the T20 World Cup moves entirely to the West Indies for the Super 8s and beyond, spin bowling is expected to become a dominant force. The first half of the ninth edition of the tournament saw fast bowlers dominating, both in the USA and the West Indies. This is evident from the statistics: pacers bowled 829.3 overs compared to spinners’ 464.2 overs, delivered 30 maiden overs against spinners’ 8, and took 306 wickets compared to 150 by spinners, all from 40 group-stage matches.

Tim David’s Focus on Leg-Spin

Ahead of Australia’s first Super 8s game against Bangladesh in Antigua, Tim David, a powerful finisher and part-time off-spinner, revealed his recent focus on leg-spin. Over the past few months, David has been experimenting with leg-spin to provide his team with an additional bowling option if needed. Though he has yet to bowl in this World Cup, David mentioned his dedicated efforts to improve his bowling skills.

“It just gives you options as a match-up. I started bowling leg-spin in nets about nine months ago, and they came out really well. So, just been working really hard on it. And to be honest, I really enjoy bowling. It’s more fun in the game than just sitting there for 20 overs in the field,” said David ahead of the Australia-Bangladesh clash, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

David has also been intensively practicing his batting against spin in recent weeks. He noted that overthinking before a game yields minimal benefits. The 28-year-old expressed his enjoyment of net sessions and the importance of having fun while training.

“I’ve practiced a lot against spin over the last couple of weeks. Day before a game or a couple of days before the game, it’s not that big of a stress. You know you can’t change too much at that stage. You just get feeling good in the nets, ticking a couple of boxes, having fun at training. That’s the most important thing for me so close to the game,” added David.

With the Super 8s underway, David’s preparation and potential versatility as a leg-spinner could prove invaluable for Australia in their quest for the T20 World Cup title.