The Chucking Issue: Cause vs Effect (and how to stop it)
What is really happening when a bowler throws it?
It shouldn’t reach the TV cameras.
Here’s what causes “chucking” and what to check first.
“This bowler chucks it.”
That’s the easy line.
But here’s the truth: chucking is rarely the cause. It’s the effect.
When it reaches the top level
Recently we’ve seen international bowlers publicly reported for suspect actions — Prenelan Subrayen (South Africa) to name one recently.
Talented players, biggest stage… and then the spotlight lands on how they release the ball.
My view? It shouldn’t get that far.
By the time a bowler is playing international cricket, there should already be a quiet process running in the background (and maybe there was?) : monitor, measure, remove any guesswork and/or rumours.
The player doesn’t need every detail—just a clear, supportive pathway that helps them.
What’s really happening
When an arm bends beyond 15 degrees, the bend is usually not the cause. It’s the body compensating for something else.
Just to make clear that issues are caused when the bowling arm bends past 15 degrees and then straightens while moving into ball release.
Common patterns I see in issues:
Mistiming between legs and upper body → the arm shortens to catch up.
Falling away instead of staying upright at release → energy leaks sideways.
Front arm lost too early → bowling arm speeds up by shortening.
Every action is different, but these themes repeat.
Why it matters
Any bowler with a suspect action needs help.
The brain is clever—it knows we’re generally trying to bowl the ball at the stumps.
If the base isn’t aligned (generally feet alignment), the “fix” can often show up as a bent arm that straightens to get back on line with the target… and that’s when problems begin.
What I cover in the full breakdown (for paid subscribers)
Quick physical checks every coach must run first.
Biomechanics of why some arms bend (and when).
Alignment drills to keep bowlers upright and moving at the target.
How I’d approach this specific case study step-by-step.
👉 Upgrade to paid for the full breakdown and an exclusive Zoom Q&A next week where I’ll go deeper, share drills, and answer questions live.
I hope to see you all soon.
Stuart