Prosperity in dexterity

After the excitement of last Sunday’s victory against the West Indian Cavaliers in the National Knockout, this Saturday’s defeat to the same opposition was very much a heavy bump back to earth. However, on some occasions you need to hold your hands up and say that you were well and truly outplayed, and that was very much the case this weekend. Cory Collymore may no longer play Test cricket, but in his impressive opening spell at the 2bm Private Ground on Saturday, you could see why the Bajan played 30 Test matches and 84 One Day Internationals.

His control of the ball and skill in moving it both away and back in to the batsman, made him a tough prospect to face, and along with able support from Kafeel Shafique, they took the game away from us within the first 90 minutes of the match.

It takes many hours and years practicing to develop the kind of skill level that Collymore was able to exhibit at the weekend. Those who have been following the recent celebrations of James Anderson reaching 400 Test wickets will know that it took him many years to develop his full repertoire of deliveries. Yet another story on this theme, really gripped me this week and it may be one that might have passed you by. If I say the name Pat Venditte it might not mean a lot to you. However, this week he became first pitcher in 20 years to pitch with both arms in a Major League Baseball game.

It is quite a remarkable story. The guy can pitch a full range of deliveries with both his left and right hand, and he will switch which way he pitches depending on the dexterity of the batsman. Yet he is no young spunk. At 29, Venditte has been selected by the Oakland Athletics (famous for their willingness to choose the unfashionable for those who have read or seen Moneyball), after 8 years trawling through the minor leagues. He started throwing with both hands as a young child at the encouragement of his father when he first started to play baseball.

Pat Venditte throws with both left and right arms when pitching (c) Getty Images

Inevitably this got me thinking, could we at some stage see a bowler at the top level of the game offer deliveries not just of different pace, swing or spin, but even of different arms? It would certainly provide a levelling up to the switch hitting, and it would allow the bowler an opportunity to provide an additional string to their bow. I have played with a few people who throw with one hand and bowl with another, so why couldn't this develop further? One thing is for sure, you would need to start young, so I think my chance of developing a right arm over variation might have sailed!