Book excerpt: Fast bowling is a cricketing skill that now, more than ever, requires a mix of brains and brawn. Twenty20 cricket has resulted in fast bowlers being cannon-fodder for many batsmen. Batsmen are now dominating and are becoming more inventive, as cricket evolves into a game where high scores are the norm and bowlers are almost anonymous. Bigger bats, smaller grounds, flatter pitches and fielding restrictions all point towards one thing: runs. But, it's time for the fast bowler to fight back. In "How to Bowl Faster...and take more wickets" former international cricketer Paul Hoffmann provides a thorough guide to bowling that will help speedsters of all ages take back control. Hoffmann looks in depth at how bowlers can add pace, pinpointing specific physical drills and activities to help achieve this. He also goes into great detail about the technical side of the skill, such as the run-up, delivery, grip, field placements and tactics. This book of nearly 50 chapters is a fresh take on an old, proud and prestigious sporting art, with input from coaches such as Trent Woodhill, as well as advice from current and former international cricketing stars such as: Dougie Brown, Bob Cottam, Gavin Hamilton, Ed Cowan, John Blain, Yasir Arafat, Kyle Coetzer, Calum MacLeod, Sikandar Raza, Shane Burger and George Munsey. Hoffmann also recounts hilarious anecdotes from his time on and off the cricket pitch, and tells the real story behind his infamous 2007 shoulder barge.