I wrote a couple of months ago about Fred Trueman’s bowling action, and how there might be a lesson for modern bowling coaches.
So I was very interested to see this tweet from @DennisCricket, and the picture of Fred in full stride.
Love this pic of Fred Trueman. The first man to take 300 Test wickets. pic.twitter.com/xW1dJQXZdS
— Dennis Does Cricket (@DennisCricket_) August 15, 2015
You can see how he has dragged through on the toe of his back foot, with the right knee now pointing down the pitch.
Back-foot contact is anything but static, and there is no need to twist and pivot on the grounded foot – in fact, from the marks either side of the bowling crease, it looks as if Fred has already dragged 18″, with another foot or more to go!
Caught in mid-delivery stride, the body is still coiled, with shoulders and hips are aligned and directed towards the target. Yes, Fred’s front arm might be higher than we coach nowadays, but you just know this won’t be a slower ball!
Would anyone be encouraged to bowl like this today? With no role models to copy, would anyone ever try it?
F.S. Trueman – 307 Test wickets at less than 20; the first bowler to take 300 Test wickets.
On this day in 1964 Fiery Fred Trueman took his 300th Test wicket – the first man to achieve the feat: pic.twitter.com/HwdlAUWsvO — Lord’s Ground (@HomeOfCricket) August 15, 2015
Trueman held the record for most Test wickets for nearly 12 years, until Lance Gibbs overtook him in 1976.
The Teesra 
FST’s dragging back foot, along with most bowlers at the time, was due to the old no-ball law. Many years ago I was told bio-mechanics had shown that dragging the back foot delayed some hip release (or something) allowing faster bowling. As regards coaching it – why not encourage players to try it and see if it helps them?