Menno Gazendam is author of Spin Bowling Project. Get your free 8 week spin bowling course here. 

Desserts are nice. Occasionally.

If you want, you could eat them all the time. Although, you will probably end up looking like Dwayne Leverock.

Like so many thing in life, desserts are better in moderation.

ANd the same rule goes for the use of your short leg.

A leg spinner is far more attacking with a looser field than fielders crowding the bat. Sure, it looks impressive having your men crowd the bat. But, this should be reserved for special occasions.

Put the batsman under pressure, not yourself

The argument goes that bat/pad fielders puts pressure on the batsman.As if by magic he suddenly starts trembling when - usually the fat bloke at club level - gets ask to stand a little closer.

In most instances a batsman that is batting well will love close-in fielders as the field opens up. There will be more gaps for him to score runs.

You scare batsmen with your bowling, not placing a fat bloke close to them.

So while Harbajan and Warne picked up their hat-tricks with short legs, the next time you sit on a hat-trick you can have your guilty pleasure for that one ball and put a short leg in as well.

But that's it.

Having a bat/pad usually places more pressure on the bowler than anything else; especially at junior and club level. Once you tense up, so much of your rhythm is gone and you start pushing the ball through quicker to just hit line and length.

Dip and turn is gone.

Don't feel you are negative if you do not use short legs. At junior and lower club levels they are usually a waste. Being terrified, they most likely will not pick up any catches coming their way.

Put in an extra cover

You are far more attacking having a short extra cover. To grab those catches as you are trying the get the batsman to drive at the ball.

Or a short mid wicket if you back your googly.

When to have a short leg

There are times to indulge in a little close bat/pad action. Here are my guidelines on when to 'get in there':

• When the batsman has no intention of scoring runs
• When the pitch shows some serious bounce and the batsman plays his defensive shots with hard hands
• When runs are not an option and you are desperately trying to get a wicket. Keep your short cover but take the man off the boundary and get him at short leg.

Do not feel pressured in using a short leg.

Stand your ground with your captain if you feel you do not want one. So, get a short cover in there and have the batsman drive.

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