In my indoor cricket team, there are a couple of players who are new to cricket not having played as a child or teenager. They are reasonable athletes and have picked up fielding and batting quickly (fortunately batting in indoor cricket requires a far narrower range of shots than in summer cricket). However, their bowling is diabolical. It is not uncommon to have most of the balls off the pitch in a given over (fortunately wides and no-balls do not have to be re-bowled in indoor cricket, although they score 3 runs each). In any case, for the purpose of this question the indoor/summer cricket distinction is moot. The basics of the skill are the same.
I have tried to offer some pointers to help, however bowling is such an unnatural action for the body to do that I really don't know where to start when someone just looks like a frog in a blender. I've been able to help people in the past improve their bowling by correcting some minor flaws, but I can't work out how to effectively help someone who has no idea of the basics. Kids seem to be able to pick this up much more quickly and can do it on their own for the most part, but it seems trying to pick it up as an adult is much more difficult.
I just want to get them to the level where they can bowl seam up at a spinners pace and simply get the ball on the pitch consistently. I need some tips on how to coach someone to be able to get the basics of a bowling action correct; get you body position and motion right, produce a consistent release etc. Does anyone have any experience and success doing this?