Horan: Warne rediscovers his leg-break. (19 Oct 95)

Title: Warne Rediscovers Leg Break Author: Michael Horan Source: Herald-Sun (October 19, 1995)

A hit-rin visit by Australian coach Bob Simpson and some computer technology has made Australian cricket`s most lethal weapon, Shane Warne, take a turn for the better.

Simpson flew to Brisbane on Monday and joined Warne to study replays of his wicket-taking feats plus computer print-outs of his action in a bid to work out why Warne wasn`t spinning the ball as much as he used to.

After comparing pictures of 1993 and 1995, they picked up pronounced changes in his action, caused, they believe, by his favouring a sore shoulder and trying too much variation in his bowling.

The upshot was a confident Warne "really giving it a rip" in the nets, spinning his leg break prodigously and bowling with impeccable line at the Victorians final net session before today`s Sheffield Shield opener against Queensland at the Gabba.

"From watching the videos and studying them and looking at printouts of different positions, I think I`ve worked it out," Warne said yesterday.

"I`m happy with the way it`s coming out now. It feels terrific."

Warne discovered he was falling away dramatically in his action and not following through correctly. He believes a nagging shoulder injury was part of the problem, but also the desire to try different things had inadvertantly affected his basic tool of trade, the leg break.

Forget "mystery" balls, the superstar leg spinner, who in 38 Tests has taken 176 wickets at an average of 24.09, has virtually redeiscovered his leg break.

"I think you can get a bit carried away and bowl a lot of different stuff. My biggest weapon, I suppose, is my leg break because of the way it spins," Warne said.

"I felt I wasn`t getting as much spin as I was last year and the year before.

"I think it (his bowling action) might have got a bit confused by trying too many things rather than keeping with my stock leg break.

"The first couple of Tests last year I got a few wickets, everything was going sweet. My shoulder started hurting over Christmas and I really didn`t work in it (bowling) hard enough. Subconsciously I was saying `just land them on a length and don`t really rip `em.`

"But I`ve been doing some weights and my shoulder is strong enough now to give them a rip."

Ironically, it was Queensland assistant coach Jim Hunter who helped Warne and Simpson by making available the Bulls` computerised video system.

And it is Queensland which could be first to discover just how much bite is back in the Warne leggie.

Source :: Herald-Sun