Fast Medium vs Medium Fast Bowlers: What is the Difference?

In very basic terms, a fast medium bowler is quicker than a medium fast bowler. The clue is in the order of the words – fast vs medium or medium vs fast.

A fast medium bowler is capable of quicker deliveries than their medium fast counterparts who are on the faster side of medium. This is better described in the following chart.

Classification of Fast Bowlers According to Speed

These can be confusing terms, but we can look at individual players and use them as examples in order to clear things up.

Also, while there are no official figures to define each of the following four categories, by bracketing them into different speed parameters, we can also make things easier to understand.

1. Fast Bowlers

These are the fastest bowlers of them all and, while there are no defined speeds for any of these categories, the quickest are capable of hitting 90 miles per hour on a regular basis.

Good examples here might include Australia’s Pat Cummins and the England duo of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood – when they are fit.

2. Fast Medium Bowlers

If we’re using those miles per hour categories to define a fast medium bowler, they will generally average out at between 80 and 87 mph.

Many of them will be capable of hitting 90 mph at times, but these will be rare, surprise deliveries, and you won’t see these kinds of speeds on a regular basis.

Fast medium bowlers lack the pace of the outright quicks, so they will tend to rely more on other techniques such as swing and seam.

Australia’s Glenn McGrath with his almost-perfect seam position was a great example of this while other fast medium bowlers of recent times would include England’s James Anderson and Ishant Sharma of India.

3. Medium Fast Bowlers

These guys are slower still – usually at around 70 to 79 miles an hour and they may not be regular members of a bowling attack. Medium fast bowlers might also be used more in a one day match where pace off the ball is seen as a better weapon than in test cricket.

Medium fast bowlers can still use swing and seam and they will also try to use upper body strength in order to generate some bounce off the pitch.

A good example from the recent past is England’s Paul Collingwood, while Colin de Grandhomme of New Zealand is slightly more up to date. Those who watch T20 franchise cricket from around the world may also be familiar with Benny Howell, who drops his pace right down and relies almost exclusively on variations.

4. Medium Bowlers

You may occasionally hear them referred to as ‘trundlers’, these are the slowest bowlers within this particular category. In fact, their lack of pace may mean that they are not regular members of the attack, and their deliveries will typically range between 65 and 70 miles per hour.

India’s Virat Kohli is a good example here: We rarely see him bowl, but he does occasionally bring himself on and he had nine international wickets as he went into the 2024/25 Indian season. Australia’s Ricky Ponting was a similar type of bowler. Ponting is retired and Kohli rarely bowls, so are the medium bowlers going out of the game?

What Skills Does a Fast Medium Bowler Have?

While an out-and-out fast bowler relies almost solely on their pace, those with fast medium speeds need additional skills. They will rely more on swing and seam, depending on when the conditions are in their favour.

We mentioned Jimmy Anderson and he’s a good example in this category. When he was younger, he was capable of bowling deliveries around the high 80mph mark, but those speeds dropped as he matured.

Anderson was exceptional in English conditions with that prodigious swing, and despite what some cricket fans suggest, he had a good record overseas as well.

When India toured England in 2018, I was impressed with Mohammed Shami. His swing and seam helped him to take 16 wickets in five test matches, including six in one game.

Because they lack that little bit of extra pace, the fast medium bowlers should be adept at swing or seam, otherwise, they will struggle on most surfaces.

What Deliveries Will a Medium Fast Bowler Produce?

A medium fast bowler will rely much more on variations. We mentioned Paul Collingwood a little earlier, and he’s a good example. Collingwood would bowl many cutters into the surface, taking the pace off the ball and making it difficult for the batters to time their shots. 

Chris Harris of New Zealand was similar, although he was slower and could arguably be placed in the category of medium pace.

A more recent example is Benny Howell, who I mentioned earlier. Howell played in English county cricket, along with a few overseas T20 franchise tournaments. Howell had more variations than most with a range of slower balls, and change ups in pace.

Howell proved that if you are naturally a medium fast bowler, you will need to have a lot of variations in your locker. It’s all about keeping the batter thinking. If you are just bowling stock deliveries at the same pace all the time, the batting side will know what’s coming, and you will struggle.

Work on those change ups, and you will have a better chance of succeeding, even when your pace is down.

What Pace Should I Bowl At?

I remember when I started playing cricket at a very young age, everyone wanted to bowl as fast as they possibly could. We were all taking long run ups because that was the most exciting form of the game at the time.

As you grow, you consider your options. Some of us don’t have the physique for pace bowling, and remember that so many of the quicker bowlers suffer greatly through injury. We adapt to spin and slower speeds almost as a natural process.

My personal advice to any young cricketer would be to try all options. We all want to bowl pace, but maybe you are a natural turner of the ball. In time, you’ll find a natural pace, but look at all speeds and techniques while your game develops.

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What is a Good Length Ball?

A good length ball is a delivery in cricket which hits a certain area of the pitch that makes it difficult for the batter to score runs.

The exact point of a good length will depend on a number of factors such as the bounce and pace of the pitch and the speed of the bowler.

Cricket Pitch Good Length Area

A good length ball is one that hits the pitch on the point between a short length and a full length. As we’ve seen, the exact measurements can be dependent on conditions, but a good length will generally fall at around six to eight meters from the stumps.

That is the general measurement for the quicker bowlers. For the spinners, a good length is a little fuller at around three to four meters.

In terms of direction, a good length will be on middle stump, off stump or just outside off stump. The bowler wants the batters to be playing at the ball rather than leaving it to pass harmlessly through to the wicket keeper.

How to Bowl a Good Length Ball?

A bowler would need to quickly assess where a good length should be. Remember that the area can vary depending on the conditions. When the ball approaches the batter, it should arrive at somewhere between knee and hip height.

It’s neither too full nor too short so that the regular attacking strokes are difficult to play.

How to Bowl – Guide & Tips

Once the spot has been established, it’s up to the bowler to keep hitting that good length. Practice in the nets can help to a great extent. In these situations, the bowler can put a marker down – it could be a cone or even a coin or a coloured handkerchief. Bowling extensively to this type of equipment will help you to execute good length deliveries in a match situation.

It will also help to focus on that area of the pitch as you run into bowl. If you watch professional cricketers on the television, they have a tendency to stare at the wicket as they release the ball. By doing this, you can concentrate on the target as you enter the release phase. This is about visualisation and imaging where, on the wicket, the ball will pitch before you release it.

Of course, you won’t be able to place a target on the wicket when you are in a match situation, but the practice that you put in will have been invaluable. You can still focus on the wicket – there may be a footmark, a crack or a green patch of grass that will act as a natural aid as you let go of the ball.

Types of Bowlers that can Bowl Good Length Deliveries

All types of bowlers can send down good length deliveries but it can be more effective for the seamers. At a faster pace, there is less time to react and little that the batters can do to counter the effects of a good length ball.

Any seam movement that the bowler gets from the wicket can also make it difficult for the batter.

For spin bowlers, a good length can work but it is more of a defensive ploy. Any spin that the bowler can get is likely to be more effective when the ball is pitched further up.

Highest Good Length Percentages by Bowlers

Mohammad Asif

Current statistics show that Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif has returned the highest percentage of good length balls in test cricket. Asif was a competitive seam bowler with some good pace in his youth, and he finished his career with 106 wickets from 23 matches.

He bowled 5,171 balls in that time, and 59.5% of them were of a good length. It was unfortunate that there was a lot of controversy surrounding Mohammad Asif, as he would have enjoyed a much more prolific career if he had been able to avoid it.

Ryan Sidebottom

England’s Ryan Sidebottom was a left arm seam bowler who was very effective in his second spell in test cricket. He didn’t have any great pace, but he was excellent at hitting a good length and letting the ball do the work.

Sidebottom claimed a test hat trick and was a productive bowler, especially in English and New Zealand conditions, where he was aided by swing and seam movement. He claimed 79 test wickets in 22 games, with best figures of 7/47.

Ryan Sidebottom bowled 4812 balls in his test career, and the statistics show that 59.1% of them were of a good length.

Chaminda Vaas

Chaminda Vaas’ statistics suggest that he is the best of the faster bowlers that Sri Lanka has ever produced. Only two spinners sit above him in his country’s list of leading test wicket takers.

Vaas picked up 355 wickets in 111 tests. He bowled 23438 deliveries, and a high percentage of those were of a good length. That nagging length and subtle swing and seam movement helped Chaminda Vaas to become an effective wicket taker, even in unhelpful conditions on the subcontinent.

It’s also interesting that the bowlers who deliver a higher percentage of good length deliveries in test cricket also tend to have lower economy rates. This backs up the theory that a good length ball is difficult to score runs from. If a batter isn’t scoring, they are more likely to take risks.

How to Hit a Good Length Ball in Cricket?

The batter’s approach to a good length ball can vary on a number of factors. Are they happy just to defend? Have they been at the crease long enough to improvise and risk an attacking stroke?

Does the position in the game mean that the batters should be looking to score quick runs? Here are some options for those who are struggling to deal with the good length ball.

Is it Difficult to Hit Good Length Balls?

It certainly is difficult for the batter to hit a good length ball. If we think about attacking shots, they are all dependent on where the ball pitches.

If the ball is too full, we can play an attacking shot, such as the drive or the sweep. If the ball is short, the pull or the hook become options.

There is no attacking shot that comes naturally to a full length delivery, so the batter will need to improvise.

Shots against Good Length Deliveries

In most cases, the best shot to play against a good length delivery will be a defensive one. A forward defensive will simply hit the ball back down the pitch. There is no likelihood of a run being scored, but the batter has protected their wicket.

If the ball is outside off or leg stump, the batter also has the option of leaving the delivery alone.

This defensive shot is a good option in test matches and other first class cricket where the aim for the batter is to wait for the bad delivery. It’s not so important to look to score runs from a good length ball.

The problems start to occur in short form cricket. In T20 in particular, batting sides don’t always have the luxury of being able to defend deliveries. There is a desire to score runs from every ball so what can batters do in this situation?

How to Hit – Guide & Tips

A batter doesn’t have to stay in their crease, and use of the feet can counter the impact of a good length ball. By moving forward and getting to the pitch of the ball, the batter can turn a good length delivery into one that is overpitched.

This is easier to carry out when facing the spin bowlers. The slower pace means that the batter may detect a good length ball when it leaves the bowler’s hand and they may have enough time to move their feet and get to the pitch.

With the quicker bowlers this is obviously much harder. There won’t be time to move after the ball is released so a certain amount of premeditation is required. This can be dangerous as the bowler could deliver a short ball, so there is an element of risk.

One way in which to counter this is to stand outside of the crease at the point of delivery. This method could turn a good length ball into one that is overpitched.

Another option for batters is to stand deeper in their crease. This action could potentially turn a good length ball into one of shorter length and they may be able to play an attacking shot such as a pull or a back foot drive.

Conclusion

As a batter, if you want to score runs from a good length ball then you’re going to need to improvise. If you stay in your crease, it’s hard to play anything other than a defensive shot. There’s also the issue of premeditation. If a bowler is sending down a series of good length balls, they may be easier to predict. As a batter, you could move down the pitch with greater certainty, of you could prepare to play a ramp shot to the quicker bowlers.

The problems with this approach will happen when the good length ball doesn’t follow. You might receive a bouncer, which will be much harder to play when you have moved down the wicket. It is, however, important to improvise and premeditate as these actions put the pressure back on the bowlers. They can’t simply keep sending good length balls down to you, and they will now have to vary their deliveries.

As a bowler, the good length ball can be a useful weapon. If the batting team’s run rate dips, it can build pressure which can lead to silly mistakes and poor shot selection. Having perfected the right line and length, it’s then down to the bowler to maintain it and to know when to change things if the batter is advancing down the wicket.

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What is a Googly Ball?

A Googly is a leg spinner’s delivery which is intended to turn from the off side to the leg side. The skill in executing this lies in the bowler’s ability to disguise when the Googly is being bowled.

A leg spinner’s traditional ball moves from leg to off when bowling to a right hander. When they bowl a Googly with no discernible change of action, it will turn in the opposite direction and can be very hard for the batter to pick.

Who Invented the Googly Ball and when?

The man credited with inventing the googly is Bernard Bosanquet. Often referred to by his initials of B.J.T. Bosanquet, he was a leg spin bowler who played seven tests for England between 1903 and 1905.

The delivery was developed through Bosanquet playing a table top game called Twisti-Twosti. The object was to bounce a tennis ball, causing it to spin in such a way that it couldn’t be caught by an opponent. The future test bowler perfected a ‘googly’ and transferred this skill to the cricket field. It’s for those reason that a Googly is sometimes referred to as a ‘Bosie’ after its inventor.

Why is a Googly so Called? – Etymology

There are conflicting stories as to how the term ‘Googly’ came about. For some years, it was referred to as a ‘Bosie’ in recognition of its inventor Bernard Bosanquet. This version is still used in Australia, although it’s largely out of date in the modern era. Some suggest that the googly is a Maori term which emanates from tours to New Zealand in the early 20th century.

Perhaps the most likely explanation comes from Australia. Writer Tom Horan, contributing under the pen name ‘Felix’ for the Australasian, suggested ‘Goo’ as a baby expression, followed by ‘guile’ which carried the reference to deception.

It may not be a convincing argument, but it’s the best that the cricket world has at present.

How to Bowl it Properly? – Step by Step Guide

• Step One: Grip the ball as you would for a regulation leg break. The joints of the top and middle fingers should go across the seam. The ball then rests between a bent third finger and the thumb.
• Step Two: If you’re thinking in terms of a traditional analogue clock face, your palm should be facing the number two. As the ball is delivered, the arm and the wrist rotate just a little bit further than they would for a standard leg break.

You will almost be showing the batter the back of your hand as the ball is released. At that point of release, the seam of the ball will now be pointing to that number two on the clock.

If you’ve carried out these steps correctly, the ball should now turn in the opposite direction to that of a conventional leg break.

Target Area

It’s important with a Googly to get the batter to play the ball. If it’s too wide down the leg side or the off side, then the ball is wasted.

Ideally, bowlers will want to get those batters to drive at the ball as this gives the batsman less time to react, and is more likely to lead to a false stroke. The length should, therefore, be quite full and outside the off stump. If the ball is too straight, the turn will take it down the leg side.

The most common mode of dismissals with the googly to a right hander are bowled and LBW. The idea is that the batter drives, expecting the ball to turn as it would for a conventional leg spin delivery. If the bat is wide of the body and the batter misses the ball, there is a large gap between bat and stumps.

If a right arm leg spinner is bowling to a left hander, the turn will take it away from the bat. Catches at slip or at a deeper backward point are now in play. The ideal length is similar and the object is still to get the batter to drive at the ball.

Field Set Up

It’s important not to make any obvious field changes as that will give a clue to the batter that the googly is coming. Ideally, the bowler would want to deliver the googly to the same field as their regular leg break. When delivered to a right hander, there is less chance of the googly ball being edged towards the slip cordon.

The bowler may want to take one of their slips out and bring them into a catching position on the leg side. In general, the leg side field is reinforced when the googly is bowled to a right hander, but any changes should be subtle ones.

Usage of the Googly in Different Cricket Formats

ODI

In international cricket, there are three different forms of the game and bowlers tend to take a different approach to each one. That’s why you may see the googly used in contrasting ways across those three formats.

This is a wicket taking delivery first and foremost. If it doesn’t come out correctly, it may go for runs so we tend to see this less frequently in One Day Internationals. The element of surprise is greater in the limited overs games so the googly is less of a weapon.

Test Cricket

In test matches and other first class cricket, keeping the runs down isn’t always a necessity. Teams usually need to take 20 wickets to win a game and, as we have seen, the googly is very much a wicket taking delivery.

This is why we may see the googly delivered more often in tests than in the other formats. It’s still important to keep that element of surprise and to not overdo things.

T20

This is the shortest form of the game, and bowlers will often have economy rates at the front of their minds when they are playing T20 cricket. Depending on the quality of the leg spin bowler, the googly may be very rare in this format.

Players such as Rashid Khan, who is very confident in his ability, may use the googly quite often in T20s. England’s Adil Rashid is another bowler who has started to use the googly more regularly. In the cases of both of these outstanding bowlers, you may see them deliver at least one googly per over. It’s difficult to get away when delivered by someone of such exceptional quality. So, the very best in the game will use the googly in the short forms but those with less experience will tend to hide it away.

Best Googly Bowlers

Shane Warne

He’s regarded by nearly every single cricket fan as the best bowler of the googly in the history of cricket. The late and much missed Shane Warne claimed 1001 international wickets in his career, and he wouldn’t have been able to rise to the top without an exceptional googly.

Warne relied on prodigious turn and there are so many examples of his deliveries spinning to a huge extent. The googly was used sparingly by comparison but that element of surprise helped him to claim a significant number of those 1001 victims.

Abdul Qadir

Before Shane Warne came along, Pakistan’s Abdul Qadir flew a lone flag for leg spin in the late 1970s and 1980s. The approach had all but died out of the game as teams began to rely more on extreme pace.

Qadir may have been an anomaly in that respect but he was certainly an effective one and, in home conditions, he could sometimes be unplayable. The lack of high class spin bowlers also worked in his favour, as most batters struggled to deal with him. The googly was one of his most potent weapons and, even if batters felt they could work out his leg spin, they were no match for the ‘wrong un’.

Mushtaq Ahmed

Along with Anil Kumble and Shane Warne, Pakistan’s Mushtaq Ahmed was one of the best three wrist spinners in the world during his playing days. It’s said that he actually had more variations than his contemporaries, and he perfected the googly from an early stage.

Mushtaq continued to play domestic cricket into his late 30s and he’s now a respected coach, advising the next generation of spin bowlers.

Rashid Khan

Afghanistan’s great leg spinner Rashid Khan bowls with a flatter trajectory and with a faster pace than many leg spinners. That variation is a key weapon and it also helps to make his googly even harder to deal with.

Rashid Khan burst onto the scene as a teenager and has since become one of the hottest properties for T20 franchises all over the world. At international level, he’s already taken more than 400 wickets before the age of 27 and clearly has a big future ahead of him.

Anil Kumble

Many say that India’s Anil Kumble didn’t turn the ball all that much. He pushed the ball through at speed and with a low trajectory that saw that ball skid on. That was a strong asset to have but it would be unfair to suggest that he didn’t get any spin.

He took some time to perfect the googly but it became an effective delivery for a man who achieved the rare feat of taking all ten wickets in a test match innings.

Adil Rashid

English cricket isn’t widely known for producing great leg spinners but Adil Rashid is a clear exception. He’s currently used to great effect in the white ball formats but he has also starred for the national team at red ball level.

Rashid uses the googly more than many players on this list. The element of surprise may not be on his side but it’s still an effective weapon. He’s taken more than 400 international scalps and is rising to the top of wicket taking charts in limited overs games.

B.J.T. Bosanquet

It only seems fair to include the man who started it all. As we’ve seen, Bernard Bosanquet is the man credited with the invention of the googly. He didn’t enjoy a stunning test career and, over those seven international games, he took just 25 wickets with best figures of 8/107.

His form dropped off and Bernard Bosanquet rarely bowled at the end of his first class career, but many leg spin bowlers of the past and present owe him a huge debt.

What is the Difference Between a Googly and a Doosra?

The key difference is that a Doosra is bowled by an off spinner while the Googly is delivered by a leg spinner. Both types of delivery are intended to come with a level of surprise.

An off spinner’s stock delivery is meant to turn from the off side to the leg side when they are bowling to a right hander. The Doosra, however, should turn from leg to off.

So, there are similarities in the sense that the Googly and the Doosra are both intended to spin away from the natural type of delivery. The difference is that one is delivered by a leg spinner and the other by an off spinner.

What is Googly Syndrome?

Googly Syndrome is a potential issue that all young leg spinners need to be aware of. It can occur when a bowler perfects their googly to such an extent that they forget how to bowl their standard leg break delivery.

Those that have suffered from this syndrome advise players to stop bowling the googly for a while. After coming back to the leg break for around two months, it should be easier to pick up that googly without falling into Googly Syndrome once again.

When to Bowl a Googly

If you are a young spin bowler just learning their craft, it’s likely that it will take months, and possibly years, to perfect the googly. We are all different as players and personalities, but I would be reluctant to bowl a new variation in a match situation without having perfected it.

If the delivery goes wrong, you may lose your confidence and be wary of trying it again. Advice will differ, but my advice would be to keep trying the googly in the nets until you are supremely confident.

In the match, it’s up to you as to how many times you want to bowl the googly. Just remember that it’s intended to be a surprise delivery, so try not to overdo it.

Conclusion

Those of us who are club cricketers find it especially tough to read the bowler’s hand when they are delivering the ball. We don’t come across too many exponents of the googly at this level but it can be very hard to pick when we do.

At a professional level, batters spend time assessing individual players and working out how they bowl the wrong ‘un. They look for any subtle variations in the delivery that could offer a clue as to what’s coming. That’s how effective the delivery can be, so, if you are a young leg spinner, it would be worth your while trying to perfect the googly.

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What is a Yo-Yo Test in Cricket?

A Yo-Yo test is a multi-faceted fitness test designed to measure a player’s capability of playing international cricket. Some international boards have made it compulsory for a player to pass the tests before they can be selected for a national squad.

All of the tests involved in the package are designed to test a player’s aerobic cardiovascular strength and their ability to withstand the pressure of the modern game. This isn’t a test for fundamental skill, the yo-yo challenge is all about fitness levels.

Shuttle in a Yo-Yo Test

The shuttle part of the Yo-Yo test measures a player as they run between two cones. Those cones are placed around 20 metres apart. The player sprints between the cones, and their speeds are measured.

This test is repeated until the runner has completed two kilometres, and there are time limits involved. For the fast bowlers in the team, the distance should be covered in a maximum timeframe of eight minutes and 15 seconds. For every other type of player, the time limit is eight minutes and 30 seconds.

This is designed to replicate a number of match scenarios. Batters have to sprint between the wickets and then stop when they have completed their running. Bowlers run into the crease, deliver the ball, and then stop abruptly.

Fielders have to sprint from a standing start to stop the ball. All of this ‘start, stop’ approach to the game helps to make cricket unique, and it’s one of the factors that is replicated by the shuttle test.

Types of Yo-Yo Tests

There are two levels of Intermittent Recovery (IR) Yo-Yo tests and a further two levels of Intermittent Endurance (IE) tests.

YoYo IR1

The initial level is known as IR1, and this focuses on the ‘capacity to carry out intermittent exercise leading to a maximal activation of the aerobic system’.

YoYo IR2

The second stage is a more vigorous test. This sets out to determine the individual’s ability to recover from repeated exercise with a high contribution from the anaerobic system.

YoYo IE1

IE stands for intermittent endurance, and these tests tend to be used in less strenuous sports. At the entry level of IE1, the test sets out to measure endurance levels across a longer form of competition.

YoYo IE2

This is simply a tougher set of testing than level one. Once again, this is an endurance test that is more likely to be seen in sports that are less strenuous than cricket.

Test Procedure – Step by Step

The coaches prescribe a certain approach to the yo yo test, and it uses six steps.

1. Step One: Get Ready to Run – The runner prepares to begin in a sprinter’s stance.
2. Step Two: Start the Shuttle – The player begins to run when they hear a beep from the coach. This is why a yo yo test is also called a beep test in places. The runner will need to reach the next cone before the second beep.
3. Step Three: Turn Round – Once the second cone is reached, the runner turns around and faces back towards the first cone.
4. Step Four: Beat the Third Beep – The runner returns to the starting point and has to get there before the third beep.
5. Step Five: Recovery – A ten second recovery period now follows.
6. Step Six: Repeat the process – The initial process is now repeated. The yo-yo test will continue in this fashion, increasing in intensity levels.

YoYo Test Scoring Method – Levels in a Yo-Yo Test

Occasionally, scores will be shown as a distance. For example, if you see a yo yo score of 1800, this means that the runner has covered a distance of 18 metres.

However, it’s more common to see smaller numbers such as 18, 19.1 etc.

The top level of yo yo testing is number 23, which runners are expected to complete at 19.5 kph. In reality, nobody gets close to this level.

More commonly, you may see a player complete seven shuttles at level 15 and fail on the eighth. Their yo yo score would then be recorded at 15.7.

Minimum Yo-Yo Test Scores

Minimum scores will differ depending on the sport involved. Within cricket, they will also vary between international boards. For example, the Indian cricket team has to hit a minimum yo-yo test score of 16.1.

Anyone who fails to reach that minimum score in testing will not be considered for selection.

Pakistan has a higher minimum score of 17.4 while the West Indies have set theirs at 19. At the very top end of the scale, it’s believed that New Zealand has the highest requirement of all with a minimum yo yo test score of 20.1. However, there is a confusing picture as the Kiwis have not made testing mandatory as yet.

Good Score in a Yo-Yo Test

This is open to some conjecture. Clearly, any player who is worried about their fitness will consider it a good score if they reach the minimum requirements.

In general, it’s felt that any return within 18 and 20 is considered to be an excellent score in a yo yo test and, as the following players show, it’s a good indication of their exceptional fitness.

Cricketers With Top Scores

Shan Masood – 22.1

Yo-yo test results show that Pakistan’s cricketers are supremely fit athletes. Left-handed batter Shan Masood joint leads this list with an exceptional figure of 22.1. A captain at international level, Mahsood is fast between the wickets, and his test scores back that up.

Muhammad Rizwan – 22.1

Joining his Pakistan team mate at the top of the leaderboard is Muhammad Rizwan. We know him as a wicket keeper, but he sometimes fields in the deep where his high yo-yo test score of 22.1 helps him cover the ground at great speed.

Jonny Bairstow – 21.8

An England international in all three formats. Jonny Bairstow played for many years as a wicket keeper. However, he now spends most of his time in the outfield and he also has to sprint between the wickets as a top order batter.

Bairstow’s levels of fitness are exemplary and are underlined by a Yo-Yo test which is measured at 21.8.

Maheesh Theekshana – 19.2

Sri Lanka’s off spinner Maheesh Theekshana may seem another unlikely candidate for a high test result. He is a slow bowler so he doesn’t expend too much energy, but he is very young and clearly very fit.

Theekshana’s Yo-yo test scores are also seriously impressive at 19.2.

Kagiso Rabada – 19.2

As somebody who bowls high levels of pace, South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada will obviously need to display fast recovery times. Despite putting his body on the line for many years, Rabada remains an all-format player at domestic and international level. He’ll more likely be used in short bursts of overs by whoever is captain of the team at the time.

He’ll need to maintain a good yo-yo test score, and he is another player to produce a high result of 19.2.

Manish Pandey – 19.2

Another cricketer with a yo-yo test result of 19.2 is the Indian batter Manish Pandey. For many years, he was on the fringes of the national team but he is an effective player when he finds form.

That form may be inconsistent, but his fitness isn’t in question as Pandey returns a high set of results.

Virat Kohli – 19

Virat Kohli completes this particular list with yo-yo test scores that come in at exactly 19. He has been India’s inspirational captain for many years, but we tend to forget that he is a world class batter and an excellent fielder. He has exceptional levels of fitness, and many cricket fans may not be aware that he is also one of the fastest runners on the circuit.

Kohli will need to maintain good results moving forward and those are exceptional figures.

Debate Over the Yo-Yo Test

Should the yo-yo test play such a big role in team selection? While fitness levels are clearly important, there are some players of the recent past who have struggled to get into sides because of their weight. Those individuals may well have lower scores, but their ability with the bat, ball or both, cannot be questioned.

There is a theory that the yo-yo test may be more important in limited overs games than in first class or test cricket. In ODIs and T20s, all players need to be extra quick between the wickets and across the ground when they are fielding. Test cricket is a slower form of the game, where the demand for speed may not be so high.

Opinion will be divided over this question. For what it’s worth, I believe that the yo-yo test is a useful tool, but a player shouldn’t be automatically ruled out if they fall under the levels. Each player should be considered as an individual case, and the yo-yo test shouldn’t be the sole judge of selection.

Yo-Yo Test FAQ

When was the First Yo-Yo Test?

The Yo-Yo test was devised in the 1990s and appeared in a white paper in 2008. Soccer teams adopted the process shortly afterwards.

In cricket, it’s thought that the first team to take part in the yo yo test were India, who started using it in 2017, ahead of their tour to Sri Lanka.

Who invented the Yo-Yo Test?

The man credited with inventing the Yo-Yo test is Dr Jens Bangsbo. A Danish scientist, Bangsbo was also a football coach and he wanted to implement a routine that wasn’t all about long distance running.

Realising that speed and recovery were a part of professional sport, Bangsbo devised the Yo-Yo test.

Conclusion

The question of fitness levels in cricket has come into sharper focus in recent years. I have just published an article on heavier cricketers, and I doubt that many of these would have been comfortable taking the Yo-Yo test.

Just like a healthy diet, it’s certainly a necessary part of the game, and it’s important to find out just how likely it is that your players can withstand the stresses and strains of international competition. The controversy, if there is any, relates to the fact that some boards will exclude players if they do not pass the test.

In summary, there is a confusing picture to an extent with different boards using different scoring requirements, but it’s certainly a useful test in the context of a sport that requires very high levels of fitness.

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In the following article, you’ll get to understand the differences between swing and seam bowling, and what are the key factors affecting your delivery.

In Short: Swing Bowling vs Seam Bowling

The aim for seam and swing bowlers is to use their techniques to ultimately dismiss a batsman. Fast bowlers rely mainly on their pace while a seamer looks for the ball to hit the seam when it hits the pitch. It can deviate from this point to deceive the batsman.

A swing bowler relies on movement in the air: There are a number of different techniques that see the ball swing on delivery which makes it harder for the batter to contend with. In professional cricket, many bowlers will be known for one of those three techniques  – pace, swing and seam. Most will, however, attempt a combination of two or possibly all three.

The Factors Affecting Cricket Balls

A cricket ball can be affected by many different factors and these start in the manufacturing stages. Across the world, there are three main balls used and these are produced by Kookaburra, Dukes and SG.

The main difference between the three lies in the seam and this can affect how the ball swings and moves off the pitch. Some seams are small, while others are more pronounced. With Kookaburra, the balls have a tendency to swing early before the seam starts to deteriorate after around 30 overs. The Dukes balls are more durable and can swing and seam for longer.

In contrast, the SG balls offer little assistance to the quicker bowlers. They are mainly used in India and other parts of Asia where spin bowlers are more prevalent.

The weather can also affect the behaviour of the ball. Overcast conditions and cloud cover can cause the ball to swing more than it would under clear skies. Nobody is entirely sure why this happens, but cloudy conditions can certainly aid swing bowlers.

The third most common factor affecting cricket balls is the pitch. If it is green with a greater covering of grass, there may be more movement off the seam. In contrast, a dry and dusty pitch is more likely to favour the spin bowlers rather than the faster members of the attack.

These are external factors but there are certain points that are within the control of the fielding side. Players are no longer allowed to apply saliva, but they can use sweat on the ball with a view to keeping it shiny on one side. The other side of the ball is left alone to allow it to rough up naturally. The players are not, however, allowed to alter the condition of the ball by any artificial means.

Swing Bowling in Cricket

Swing bowling is a difficult art to master on a consistent basis. At times, the condition of the ball will combine with overcast skies to provide a perfect situation for most bowlers to obtain some swing. However, the best swing bowlers can use this art, even when those conditions are not in their favour.

When a ball swings prodigiously it is very difficult for the batsman to defend his or her wicket. The trajectory is unpredictable as the ball changes its line after it leaves the bowler’s hand. For that reason, it’s advisable for new players to study the science behind swing.

The Physics Behind Swing Bowling

When a fielding side shines one side of the ball while leaving the other to deteriorate naturally, they are applying a rule of physics that can help that ball to swing. As the ball leaves the bowler’s hand, airflow will behave differently on each side and the rough side should swing in to or away from the batsman depending on the where it has been positioned by the bowler.

Any form of swing bowling is dependent on that air flow. As the bowler delivers the ball, a thin layer of air forms around it. This is known as the boundary layer but it cannot form to cover the entire surface of the ball and it will separate at certain points. The point of separation will determine the pressure on the ball.

Crucially, swing will be generated if the pressure is different on either side of the ball. This is why the fielding side treats the two individual hemispheres of the ball differently.

Types of Swing Bowling

With conventional swing bowling, the bowler is either looking for inswing or outswing. Inswing bowling sees the ball swing in to the batsman while outswing leads to it moving away.

The seam is important here because it acts as a rudder, guiding the ball in the direction that the bowler wants it to swing. If the seam is angled to the slips on the point of delivery, the bowler is looking for outswing, away from the batsman. In contrast, with the seam angled into the batsman, the bowler is aiming for inswing which would take the ball into the stumps.

There is a second factor to consider and this is reverse swing. This is a relatively new phenomenon which is believed to have been discovered in the early 1980s.

What is Reverse Swing in Cricket?

With reverse swing, the ball behaves in the opposite way from conventional swing. So, when the ball is angled to the slips on point of delivery, it will swing in to the batsman rather than away. Additionally, a ball angled towards the stumps will swing away to the slips.

The science states that reverse swing can occur when a ball becomes older and the roughness on one side reaches a certain state. Speed is essential and only the faster bowlers, whose deliveries approach and exceed the 90mph mark, can perfect reverse swing on a consistent basis. Reverse swing can be even more difficult for batters to deal with, as they are expecting the ball to move in the way that traditional swing would.

Contrast Swing

Another form of delivery that is rarely talked about is referred to as ‘contrast swing’. This can occur when the seam is held upright and delivered between the middle and index fingers of the bowler’s hand. Because that seam is straight, the bowler can achieve a higher speed and this makes contrast swing much more difficult to play. However, this is a technique that can be effective for bowlers of any pace.

The ball has a greater tendency to move towards the shiny side when contrast swing has been achieved.

Famous Swing Bowlers

Pakistan have produced some of the best swing bowlers in the history of cricket but there is only one man who has earned the title ‘the King of Swing’. Wasim Akram played 104 tests and took 414 wickets and this remains a record for a Pakistan international. Along with Waqar Younis, Wasim formed a devastating bowling partnership that delivered effective swing bowling in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Wasim and Waqar learned their trade from former Pakistan captain Imran Khan. Imran is widely credited as being the first bowler to identify and perfect the art of reverse swing.

Of those who are still playing the game, England’s Jimmy Anderson is considered by many to be the best swing bowler around. Anderson picked up his 700th test match wicket in 2024 and he retired from the game with more test victims than any other fast bowler in the game’s history.

The New Zealand pair of Tim Southee and Trent Boult have also been effective as swing bowlers in all forms of the game.

Other great swing bowlers, of the recent past include Sir Richard Hadlee, Dale Steyn, Zaheer Khan and Chaminda Vaas.

Seam Bowling in Cricket

Seam bowling requires the bowler to deliver the ball so that the seam hits the pitch when it lands. When this happens, it can cause a random deviation which makes it harder for the batsman to play.

Those who employ the technique are referred to as seam bowlers or seamers.

The Physics Behind Seam Bowling

The addition of the outer seam means that a cricket ball is not perfectly spherical. If it were, it would be much easier for the batsmen to play and harder for the bowlers to take wickets. The seam is a useful ally to any bowler but the quicker men can use extra speed to greater advantage.

If a ball’s seam hits the pitch on delivery, it can react randomly. There is a chance that it will go straight on but it can also deviate and come off the pitch at an angle. This means that the batsman has to play the ball off the pitch rather than in the air and he or she has less time to react as a result.

Bowlers cannot be certain as to how the ball will behave if it hits the seam. Their task is to attempt to land that seam on the surface but it’s a difficult art to perfect. Traditional seam bowling requires the bowler to hold the ball between the index finger and middle finger. The seam is held upright with the aim for it to move vertically and straight through the air.

The bowler’s wrist must also be as straight as possible when the ball is delivered. If the ball doesn’t deviate through the air, the seam should then hit the pitch. Windy conditions can affect the flight and, in addition, if there is swing movement, the ball is less likely to hit the seam on impact with the pitch.

In recent times, bowlers have looked to innovate and use different grips which can also help the ball to hit the seam. The deliveries that are produced are referred to as ‘cutters’ and they are designed to help the bowler gain more control over the direction in which the ball moves.

By holding the seam at an angle and rolling the fingers over the ball at the point of delivery, it is possible to bowl a deliberate off cutter. If the bowler executes this skill correctly, the ball will either move from off to leg or leg to off.

By bowling cutters, the delivery will naturally be slower and this can give the batsman more time to adjust and play an effective stroke. The slowness can also provide an element of surprise if the bowler is generally delivering at speeds of 80mph and above. Other bowlers such as Paul Collingwood of England would employ cutters most of the time. With slower speeds involved, it can be much harder for batsmen to time the ball correctly.

Famous Seam Bowlers

When cricket enthusiasts talk about bowlers with a perfect wrist position, one name usually comes to mind. Australia’s Glenn McGrath was not the quickest of bowlers and, even in his prime, would frequently deliver the ball in the low 80s mph. However, he managed to deliver the ball with an almost-perfectly straight wrist.

As a master of seam bowling, McGrath finished his playing career with 563 test match wickets. This was a record for a quicker bowler until it was subsequently broken by Jimmy Anderson many years later. Other great seamers from the past include India’s Kapil Dev and Shaun Pollock of South Africa who both claimed over 400 test wickets in their careers.

Of the seam bowlers still playing the game, Tim Southee, Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood are considered to be among the best.

Up and Coming Swing and Seam Bowlers

When James Anderson was asked to retire by the England management in 2024, the search was on to find a replacement. England had tried Matthew Potts, and while he had enjoyed a productive start to his test career, he began to fade after a few games.

The team may have found the answer in Gus Atkinson the Surrey seamer. His pace is a little down on that of Mark Wood and Joffra Archer, but he has good speeds, and he hits the seam on a regular basis. I haven’t seen him swing the ball as much, but that quality might come when the conditions are right.

Pakistan have a lot of fast bowling talent, but there always seems to be a level of inconsistency. When he’s on form and the conditions are in his favor, Shaheen Shah Afridi seems almost unplayable. Naseem Shah also looks impressive, but he’s another bowler who needs to address those issues over consistency.

Over in South Africa, I’ve been impressed with Marco Jansen. A tall left armer, he seems to naturally bring the ball into the right handed batters. He also has good speed and his extra height encourages more bounce off the pitch.

If I’ve missed any other promising seam and swing bowlers, get in touch and have your say.

Conclusion

Swing bowling and seam bowling are two very different techniques which are both used with the aim of producing the same result. The task is to deceive and ultimately dismiss a batsman and these two arts can give the bowler an advantage.

The key difference between the two methods is that swing bowling sees the ball deviate in the air while seam bowling allows it to move off the pitch. In theory, swing bowling can give a batsman more time to react but it’s difficult to play a ball that changes its trajectory while in flight.

Seam bowling offers less time for batters to consider the path of the delivery as they have to read it from when it bounces off the pitch. Both techniques, when delivered at speed, can be equally hard to contend with, so swing and seam are essential parts of any bowling attack’s armoury – along with pace bowling.

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Who are the Opening Batsmen?

The opening batsmen are the players who are listed as numbers one and two in the batting line up. They will open the innings in the sense that they will face the new ball and will not have to wait for a wicket to fall before they walk to the crease.

Their role is an important one in terms of their team’s score and also for the course of the game.

Opening Batsmen in the Batting Order

The initial role of the

opening batsmen is to ‘see off the new ball’. The new ball literally comes out of its box and hasn’t been used up to that point. In first class cricket, the fielding side have 80 overs in which to use that ball before they can change it again.

When the ball is new, it can bounce more and there can be more movement off the seam. That seam is more prominent and the ball can deviate to a greater degree when the ball hits the pitch.

Opening batters will have to deal with that new ball and, therefore, they have a more specialist role than their teammates who are lower down in the batting order.

It can be tricky to negotiate those early overs and, in test and first class cricket, batsmen tend to rely on the defensive technique required early in the match and they will often leave the ball alone. However, they will also need to play attacking shots and take advantage of bad deliveries when they can.

When the ball is struck by the bat, the shine starts to leave it and that seam becomes less prominent. The ball starts to become softer and will bounce less and there will be less movement off the seam.

The role of the opening batters is, therefore, quite diverse.

In modern test and first class cricket, opening batters tend to play at a higher tempo than they might have done in the past. Teams look to be more aggressive and post higher run rates from the very first ball. Opening batsmen will, therefore, aim to get the side off to a fast start and make the bowling team more defensive.

Of course, in ODI and T20 cricket, all batters look to play quickly.

What Makes a Good Opening Batsman?

Adaptability to Pitch Conditions

A good opening batsman will be able to adapt their game to any surface and to any overhead conditions. If there is cloud cover, the ball will tend to swing more in the air when it leaves the bowler’s hand.

If the weather is clear and sunny, there should be less swing but the ball may bounce more. Overhead conditions can exaggerate swing and seam in the early overs of a match and the opening batsman needs to be prepared for this.

The pitch can also play a big part in how the opening batters adapt their game. It may be low and slow to the extent that spinners come into the attack much earlier than they normally would. Opening batters will rarely face spin until much later in the innings – usually in the second session of a test cricket match when the ball is around 40 overs old.

However, on turning surfaces, especially in countries such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, spin may be employed much earlier.

In contrast, if the openers arrive at the crease and the pitch is quite green, with plenty of grass, the ball will tend to deviate more off the surface. The seam bowlers will be in play for much longer and we may not even see spin until much later in the innings.

In summary, an opener needs to have a strong all round game and they need to be prepared for anything. The early conditions, the weather and the state of the pitch will all have a bearing on the type of bowling attack that they will be facing and those opening batsmen will need to be ready.

Strong Defensive Play

This is the basis of a good opening batsman. Even the power hitters such as Australia’s David Warner and Chris Gayle from the West Indies will have a solid defensive technique. Meanwhile, the majority of openers don’t tend to play in Warner’s style so they will need to be playing defensively more at the start of an innings.

The ball will move more off the seam and will tend to bounce more as we have seen. The fielding side will also be attacking. Bowlers will be fresh and should be hitting their line and length more regularly than they would do later on in the innings.

Openers should take advantage of poor deliveries but those opening overs are mostly a time for solid defence.

Playing the New Ball

This is the first role of the opening pair and, while we’ve touched on it above, this is worth mentioning once again. When the new ball comes out of the box, it is shiny on both sides with a pronounced seam. The bowling team will need to maximise this ball before it starts to lose both of those assets.

A shiny new ball will tend to bounce more and, with that raised seam, there is likely to be more deviation. I’ve covered different types of balls in another article and we know that the various brands are different in terms of that seam. However, in all cases, the ball is in better condition when it is new.

Read about the different types of cricket ball here.

The first job of the opening batsmen is to negate the power of that brand new ball. A solid defence is vital but it’s also important to score runs when the opportunity is there. The best openers, even if they are primarily of a defensive mindset, will always look to put away the bad ball.

In those early overs, the field is up with more slip fielders and other close fielders in play. The bowling team are attacking and that leaves gaps in the field. By exploiting those gaps, opening batters are doing two things.

Firstly, they are keeping the scoreboard moving.

While it’s important to have that strong defensive technique, if the run rate is low during the first session, pressure will start to build. Runs win matches and, at some point, the openers have to get that scoreboard moving in order to take the pressure off them and the batters that will follow.

Secondly, attacking shots help to change the condition of the new ball.

A new ball will always go soft at some point and the seam will start to deteriorate. Bowlers hit the pitch, the ball hits the wicket keeper’s gloves and the shine and hardness of that ball starts to lessen.

However, by hitting the ball hard in the middle of the bat and sending it to the boundary, openers can speed up that softening process.

In summary, there is a balance to be struck here: A strong defensive technique is vital if you are going to make it as an opening batsman but you will need to score runs and keep the scoreboard moving when the opportunity arises.

The trend for faster cricket in all formats might make young batters feel they need to be aggressive, but this isn’t necessarily the case. A strong defensive technique is essential if you’re going to open the innings.

Patience

Opening batsmen must also possess a strong mental approach to the game. Some will say that cricket is played in the mind and it’s easy to see why that statement is made.

What if the conditions heavily favour the bowling team? There may be dark skies overhead, the pitch could be green and the ball is new. All of those factors will be there to assist the bowlers as they look for early wickets.

In these types of situations, an opening batsman may require all of their powers of patience. They may play and miss to a greater degree as the ball does more in the air and off the pitch.

Scoreboard pressure may build but the opportunity to play attacking shots just isn’t there: All the batsmen can do in these circumstances is to ride the storm and keep their wicket intact. As the ball gets softer, conditions will improve and the chances of scoring runs will increase.

Patience will also be required in other situations: Maybe the bowler is hitting their line and length every time or perhaps there is a more defensive field than is normal. At other times, there are those occasions where batters just keep hitting a fielder and they can’t seem to get the ball away.

Frustration can build but openers simply have to remain patient. One lapse in concentration can lead to a false shot and you’ll be back in the pavilion wondering what might have been.

Tips to be a Better Opener

We’ve seen how being an opening batsman can test all types of aspects. Technique is naturally under the microscope but a strong physical and mental approach is also required.

Let’s quickly deal with the physical element. An opening batter has the potential to stay at the crease for longer than any of his or her colleagues. Most of cricket’s longest ever innings have been played by openers so look to take on a fitness regime which includes exercises that work on your stamina.

There’s also the mental side of the game. I’ve mentioned the need for patience and to be mentally strong but how can you work on that? This is something that you can practice in the nets and also out on the field of play.

If you’ve played and missed at a delivery, just forget about it and move on. Your focus should always be on the next ball that the bowler sends down. To help them with that refocusing, a lot of professional cricketers will have a little routine in place once they’ve played a poor shot.

Many will simply take a couple of steps away from the crease; maybe they will adjust their pads or their gloves before getting back in their stance. They may also do some shadow batting, and practice that shot again. You can’t delay play too much but, if you feel that you need a little more time to refocus, you can always ask the umpire for your guard once again.

As regards to your actual technique, a lot of the advice given here will be similar to that which has been suggested for all batters. However, as an opener, there are some unique aspects to your play.

In the opening passages of play, you are likely to be leaving the ball much more than you would in the later overs. Many openers will therefore be eager to get their head in line with off stump. If a ball is passing outside of that off stump, there is no need to be playing at it during those early overs.

Look at the advice on taking guard and maybe move across more to the off side with a middle or middle and off stump guard. This could potentially leave you more susceptible to LBW decisions so there is something of a delicate balance here.

If you’re in the nets and lucky enough to have access to a bowling machine, you can set the device to provide the types of deliveries that you may receive as an opener. A battle against the swinging ball is most likely so look to see if your machine can provide a mix of inswing and outswing.

Hard and fast bounce is more likely in those opening overs and that’s something that a machine can also replicate.

If you don’t have a bowling machine, ask your net bowlers to provide those types of deliveries to the best of their ability. If they are faster, opening bowlers, it’s more likely that they will want to practice these types of deliveries anyway.

It’s unlikely that many of us club cricketers will have the luxury of being able to face a new ball in the nets. That shiny new cherry with its pronounced seam is too expensive and will be reserved for match days.

You can, however, look for the balls in the best possible condition. If a net ball is completely worn and the seam is starting to unravel, it’s unlikely to be of any use to you when you’re looking to hone your skills as an opening batsman.

The Best Opening Batsmen

The best opening batsmen are often spoken of in pairs. Great partnerships such as Hobbs and his opening partner Sutcliffe, Hayden and Langer, Greenidge and Haynes come to mind.

When I grew up, one of my early cricketing heroes was Geoffrey Boycott and he is right up there on the list of England’s greatest ever opening batsmen. Once Boycott had retired, Graham Gooch was the man to take over.

Of the overseas openers that I admired, Sunil Gavaskar was a classic example of the patient player with plenty of the qualities mentioned in this round up.

In the modern game, it tends to be all about the batsmen in at numbers 3 and 4. In general, there is a relative lack of world class opening batters when compared to the ‘big four’ – Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, Virat Kohli and Joe Root. Maybe that situation is one for national teams to address.

Closing Thoughts

Since I first wrote this article in April 2022, the game has moved on to an extent. In test cricket, batters have been playing at a faster tempo than before. I would still maintain that there is a need for solid defense as an opening bat, but many pairs look to attack from ball one.

England, with their ‘Bazball’ approach are often given credit for this, but other teams have been doing this for some time. Australian openers such as Matthew Hayden and Michael Slater had been batting at a rate of four runs per over during their careers. In India, Virender Sehwag and Shikhar Dhawan also played at a much higher tempo.

The techniques mentioned in this roundup still apply, especially for young cricketers. You will need that solid defense, a tough mindset and the ability to see off the new ball. Cricket may be evolving, but the role of the opening batters is much the same as it’s always been.

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What is a Carrom Ball in Cricket?

The Carrom Ball is a type of delivery in cricket that is produced by slow bowlers. It features an unusual grip where the ball is held between the thumb, forefinger and middle finger of the bowling hand.

As the bowler releases the ball, they will flick the thumb and bent middle finger in order to impart spin.

History of the Carrom Ball

The man credited with the invention of the carrom ball is the Australian spinner Jack Iverson. He started his career as a regulation off spinner but started to develop a unique, bent fingered grip, while serving in the Second World War.

Iverson’s action saw him flick the ball out of the hand with his fingers. The delivery became known as the carrom ball because it was similar to the action of flicking a carrom plate. Carrom was a popular tabletop game at the time.

Use of the carrom ball died out after Iverson’s final test match until it was revived by another Australian. John Gleeson used the carrom ball extensively during the late 1960s and early 1970s across his 29-test career.

Gleeson could be effective at times but very few other bowlers adopted the carrom ball as part of their armoury. It’s only been in recent years that spinners have realised the need to put more variation into their attack.

Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis is credited with bringing the carrom ball back into favour when he made his international debut in 2008, while Sunil Narine and Ravichandran Ashwin have also used it to good effect.

How to Bowl a Carrom Ball?

Depending on the degree of grip, the carrom ball can turn to either the off or the leg side or it can spin straight on. It is a difficult delivery to master but it can cause serious confusion for the batter when the bowler gets it right.

The grip is the place to start. The ball is held between the thumb, the forefinger and the middle finger. The seam rests on the thumb and runs horizontally along the rest of the hand.

The middle finger is bent so this is a fairly loose grip and the ball is ‘cradled’ rather than held tightly.

The run up and delivery stride are the same for the carrom ball as they are for the spinner’s stock delivery. The difference comes on release where the ball is squeezed and flicked out of the hand by the fingers that are holding it.

It’s tricky for the bowler to control the direction of spin. The carrom ball can either turn from leg to off or it can spin from off to leg. In some cases, it can also go straight on like an arm ball. Because the bowler isn’t completely sure where it will spin, the carrom ball is extremely difficult for the batter to pick.

Notable Carrom Ball Spinners

Ravichandran Ashwin

India’s off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has a lot of variations to his game. He’s even been known to deliver leg spin so it’s no surprise that the carrom ball forms part of his repertoire.

It’s interesting to note that some batters felt that they were able to pick Ashwin’s carrom ball. He had a tendency to place the ball deeper into his palm and that was something of a giveaway.

As a result, one of the most successful off spinners in recent years developed the ‘reverse carrom’. He does this by moving the seam around and using different angles as the ball is released.

Ashwin suggests he gets more control this way with the ball tending to drift more in the air before turning sharply off the pitch.

Sunil Narine

West Indies’ Sunil Narine quickly earned a reputation as one of the best mystery spinners cricket had ever seen. He had so many variations in his repertoire including the Doosra and the Carrom Ball.

The problem with Narine was the fact that he barely changed his grip for any type of delivery and that’s why batters found him so hard to contend with. Unfortunately, he’s had to modify his action a number of times and those variations aren’t so evident, but he’s still a very effective bowler and was one of the greatest exponents of the carrom ball.

Maheesh Theekshana

Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana claims that he has been bowling the carrom ball since he was 12 years old. Traditionally a leg spinner, he has a lot of variations in his attack including the googly.

The carrom ball also helps him to turn the ball both ways, and many batters find Theekshana hard to pick. He’s been mainly used by Sri Lanka in limited overs cricket where he is highly effective. As I write this in October 2024, he’s played just two test matches while featuring in 45 ODIs and 55 T20is. 

Developing the Carrom Ball

It’s arguably the hardest of all the deliveries to master, and many of today’s professional spin bowlers don’t use the carrom ball. It’s hard to control and if you haven’t practiced it enough you may deliver high full tosses or the ball may even bounce twice.

Of all the techniques that we cover here, I’d say not to use this in a match situation until you are supremely confident in your ability. 

Conclusion

The three examples on this list tell us that the best bowlers of the carrom ball are the ones that use a lot of variations. Sunil Narine of the West Indies, Maheesh Theekshana of Sri Lanka and India’s R. Ashwin fit that profile perfectly.

It’s also a fascinating delivery and unlike any other that you will come across in cricket. The flicking motion is unique and it can’t really be compared to any other type of delivery in the game.

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What is Over the Wicket?

Over the wicket is a line that the bowler uses when they release the ball. If a right handed bowler is bowling over the wicket, they will be on the left hand side of the umpire when they let go of the ball.

When a left arm bowler delivers over the wicket, they will be on the umpire’s right side.

What is Around the Wicket?

Around the wicket is a line of attack used by a bowler in cricket. A right arm around the wicket bowler will be on the right hand side of the umpire when the ball is released.

A left arm around the wicket bowler will be on the umpire’s left hand side.

Difference Between Over the Wicket and Around the Wicket

As a bowler runs in to deliver the ball, there are two sides of the stumps. They can either bowl on the left side of the umpire or on the right.

A right handed bowler delivering to the umpire’s left is bowling ‘over the wicket’. If they switch to the right hand side, they are bowling ‘around the wicket’.

For a left arm bowler those positions are reversed. If they bowl to the umpire’s right, they are bowling ‘over the wicket’. If they change to the left side, this is an ‘around the wicket’ line of attack.

Both right and left handed bowlers will tend to deliver over the wicket but why is this the case?

When do Bowlers Prefer Bowling Over the Wicket?

Over the wicket is the more natural way for a bowler to deliver the ball. With this approach they are running in a straight line, while an around the wicket method means they need to run in a curve. The vast majority of bowlers in cricket will bowl over the wicket.

The choice can come down to personal preference but there can be advantages with an over the wicket approach. If a right handed bowler is delivering the ball to a right handed batter, they are bringing the LBW dismissal into play.

If that right handed bowler were to switch to around the wicket, the natural angle suggests that the ball is more likely to pitch outside of the leg stump. Remember that the LBW law states that a batter cannot be given out if the ball pitches outside the leg stump.

The natural angle from over the wicket will also tend to make the batter play at the ball. When bowling from round the wicket, if the angle is taking the ball towards first slip, the batters may feel that they can just leave the ball alone.

Some bowlers have said that they find it easier to maintain an off stump line when they are bowling from over the wicket.

Bowling from over the wicket may also help the wicket keeper. They will have a full view of the ball without it being impeded by the batter on its way through.

Reasons to Bowl Around The Wicket

There are occasions when a bowler will prefer to come around the wicket and a lot of these come down to the old right hand / left hand issue. A right arm bowler delivering the ball to a left hander may want to switch to round the wicket.

This would bring back all of the advantages that I mentioned above. The LBW law comes more into play and you can attack that channel outside off stump. The batter may be more conscious that they need to play at the ball rather than leaving it alone.

This can be a similar situation for left arm bowlers. If their natural angle is an issue when they are bowling to certain batters, they may find it preferable to switch.

Round the wicket bowling can sometimes be used in a negative context. It may be harder for the batters to score runs from this type of angle.

Round the wicket could also be used if there is more rough on the area of the pitch where the ball is most likely to land. This makes the approach a more attacking one.

When Should You Change?

As bowlers develop, they will begin to understand their game. When this happens, they will naturally know when to change from over the wicket to around and vice versa. If you’re new to cricket and just learning, this can be a difficult question to answer, so what should you do?

It’s certainly worth trying a different line of attack when a left handed batsman comes to the crease. I think it’s more encouraging when you’re running in and you can see all three stumps. For a right arm bowler delivering to a left handed batter, they will cover those three stumps and you may not see any of them. 

You may also want to switch over if nothing is happening with the ball. If there is no swing or seam movement and the batters are building a big partnership, it’s always worth trying something different. Give the batsman something else to think about by using a different bowling line.

As you gain more experience, you will get a feeling about switching your line. As a final note, remember to practice both lines of attack during net sessions, in order to build your confidence.

Conclusion

I’ve always bowled right arm over. I’ve never really thought about it much but this angle does seem more natural. When I have switched to round the wicket, it’s only because there is a left handed batsman.

I find that it helps to actually see the stumps when I’m bowling and I can’t do this from over the wicket to a left hander.

Maybe you’ve also found your preferences in this way. If not, there’s lots of advice here that can help you choose your best angle of attack as a bowler.

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Firstly, let’s find out what is the basic difference between these categories:

In Short

Cricket bowlers can be split into these two clear categories: Fast bowlers rely on speed but they can also employ seam and swing techniques in order to gain an advantage over the batsman. In contrast, slow bowling doesn’t have the pace to challenge batters so the slower bowlers must impart spin on the ball in order to have any chance of success. Spin bowlers can be split into those two subcategories of off spinners and leg spinners.

Bowlers are selected based on their form and also on the playing conditions which can either support their skills or negate their techniques. Keeping those conditions in mind, a cricket team still needs to select a balanced attack that features a mix of slow and fast bowling.

I will guide you through these seemingly complex categories and subcategories that can define cricket bowlers more accurately. If you are also interested in a complete list of cricket delivery types, keep on reading.

Bowling Techniques in Cricket

When a bowler releases the ball, this is known as a ‘delivery’. He or she is literally delivering the ball to the batsman at the other end of the pitch. The terms ‘balls’ or ‘deliveries’ are equally acceptable so a commentator may say that there are four balls left in the over or that there are four deliveries remaining.

Fast bowlers rely on different techniques in order to gain an edge over the batsman. These include swing, seam and sheer pace. The fastest bowlers may simply look to use their pace to claim wickets. With the quicker players sending down deliveries in excess of 90 miles per hour, this is enough to unsettle many batters.

But pace alone may not be enough if the ball doesn’t deviate in the air or off the pitch. That’s why swing and seam are the two main techniques that a quicker bowler will have in their armoury.

For slow bowlers, they simply have to make the ball move off the pitch. They have no pace in their delivery so the task is to get the ball to spin into, or away from the batsman once it pitches. If the conditions are helpful and the spin is fast and pronounced, it can be very difficult for the batsman to react quickly enough in order to play the ball effectively.

In the next section, we will look at those techniques in greater detail.

Spin and Fast Deliveries in Cricket

Types of Spin Bowling Techniques

Spin bowlers are generally split into the following two categories:

• Off Spinners
• Leg Spinners

Meanwhile, there are several factors to categorize spin bowling techniques, but for now we’ll restrict to these two:

Off Spinners

A right arm bowler will impart spin on the ball using the first and second fingers of their delivery hand. The intention is to move the ball from the off side to the leg side for a right handed batsman.

They do, however, have a number of variations and this is a comprehensive list of the deliveries that an off spinner may bowl.

Off Break

This is an off spinner’s stock delivery. To a right handed batsman it will spin from the offside to the legside while, to a left hander, it should spin from leg to off.

Doosra

A doosra is delivered by an off spinner with the intention of the ball spinning in the opposite direction to his conventional delivery. A change in grip sees the ball held between the index and ring fingers. The ball should then spin from leg to off to a right hander and vice versa to left handed batsmen.

Top Spinner

A top spinner will see the bowler twist their fingers at the point of delivery. There will be greater loop and, while the batsman will expect some spin, the ball is more likely to go straight on.

Carrom Ball

A Carrom Ball is produced when a bowler flicks the ball between his thumb and a bent middle finger. It is difficult to control but, when the skill is mastered, the ball can behave in a random manner. The spin can go from off to leg, leg to off or it can go straight on.

When spin is the result, it can be extremely pronounced.

Arm Ball

With an arm ball, the off spinner keeps the seam upright and rolls their fingers down the back of that ball as they release it. The delivery is less likely to spin and should go straight on ‘with the arm’.

By keeping that seam upright, the bowler may just get some outswing.

Teesra

A Teesra is a recent term applied to an old art of applying backspin to the ball. An off spinner will roll his or her fingers down the back of the ball but they won’t twist the hand when that ball is delivered.

As a result, the batsman may be deceived into thinking that the ball will spin when it should carry straight on its line.

Leg Spin Bowling

The second of those main categories relates to leg spin bowling. This is a more difficult skill to master and that’s why there are fewer leg spinners than off spinners within cricket. The leg spin imparted can, however, be more prodigious and can pose a greater challenge to any batsman.

The grip is far more complex with the highest joints on the middle and index fingers holding the ball across the seam. The ball then rests between the third finger and the thumb. As the bowler sends down his or her delivery, the wrist flicks and the third finger turns the ball anti clockwise.

The function of the wrist in this technique means that this type of bowler is often referred to as a wrist spinner. Additionally, left arm leg spinners are also known as Chinaman bowlers but this term is slowly disappearing from the cricket lexicon.

Here is a list of classic leg spin deliveries:

Leg Break

This is the classic stock ball of the leg spinner. Using the technique listed above, the bowler employs their wrist to turn the ball from leg to off to a right hander.

Googly

A leg spinner’s Googly moves in the opposite direction to their stock ball. Therefore, the ball will spin from off to leg to a right hander and vice versa to a left handed batsman.

A googly can deceive the batter as it is delivered with the same leg spin grip. An extra twist of the wrist or flick of the fingers can impart that reverse spin.

Flicker Ball

A flicker is the leg spinner’s carrom ball. It employs the same grip between the thumb and a bent finger and it can spin in any direction or go straight on.

Slider

The slider is also referred to as a top spinner. It employs the same grip but the bowler will roll their fingers down the side of the ball on point of delivery. This can impart sidespin and backspin which allow the ball to move quickly off the pitch and go straight on with the arm.

Flipper

This delivery is almost exclusively used by leg spinners. To deliver a flipper, the bowler will grip the ball between the thumb and first two fingers and they will look to ‘squeeze’ the ball out on the point of delivery.

Backspin is the result and, while the ball goes straight on, it can keep very low and be difficult to play.

Types of Fast Bowling Techniques

There are three distinct types of fast bowling techniques:

• Pace
• Seam
• Swing

The following guide analyses each one in turn with outlines on grips and positioning of the seam.

Pace

Pace bowlers rely almost exclusively on their speed in order to unsettle a batsman and take wickets. The fastest bowlers in the game can exceed 90 miles per hour in their delivery and that can be enough to challenge the best batters in cricket.

The potential issue with pace is that there is less movement in the air and off the pitch. While a lower order batsman and those players who are out of form may struggle, world class batters will experience fewer problems against pace. That’s why many quicker bowlers will look to apply additional delivery techniques, such as seam or swing bowling.

Bouncer

A bouncer is a short pitched delivery that is aimed at the batsman’s upper body. It can induce a false shot or it may unsettle the batter if it hits them.

Slower Ball

This is a generic term used to describe all types of slow delivery. A slower ball should be disguised so that the batsman is fooled into thinking that it’s arriving at normal speed.

Leg Cutter

A leg cutter is bowled using a leg spinner’s grip. The intention is to move the ball from leg to off for a right handed batsman while the extra pace is an added weapon.

Off Cutter

The off cutter is the quicker bowler’s version of a stock off spinner’s delivery. It should move from off to leg with some added pace.

Yorker

A yorker ball is a delivery that is intended to pitch very full, almost under the batsman’s bat. If executed correctly and at pace, the yorker can be exceptionally difficult to play.

Knuckleball

The knuckleball is a specific slow delivery. The bowler holds the ball between the knuckles rather than deep inside the fingers. The ball seems to emerge at the same speed but it will move more slowly in the air to deceive the batsman.

Seam Bowling

The seam of a cricket ball holds the structure together but it can also be a useful weapon in a quick bowler’s armoury. When the ball is delivered, it can move off the pitch at an unusual angle if the ball hits the seam when it lands.

This means that the batsman has less time to react because the ball moves off the pitch and not in the air. Seam bowling can, therefore, be a very effective tool when it’s used correctly.

Swing Bowling

Swing bowlers use techniques that make the ball move in the air after it’s been delivered. Inswing can allow the ball to move into the batsman’s stumps while outswing takes it away from the batsman and towards the slip cordon.

Reverse Swing

Reverse swing sees the ball move in a completely different direction to that of conventional swing. This usually happens when the ball gets older and one side has deteriorated significantly.

Cricket Bowling FAQ

What Are the Most Important Muscles Used in Fast Bowling?

The complete fast bowling action is so complex from the run-up to the follow-through, that there are virtually no major muscle groups that are not involved in generating that amount of pace. However, the most important muscles in fast bowling are the core muscles, the legs, (most notably the calves), the abdominal muscles, the arms, including shoulders, rotator cuff muscles, biceps, wrist and elbow muscles.

Does Height Matter in Fast Bowling?

Yes, it does. Height is considered an important factor in fast bowling, however it is not a requirement. While it does help the bowler to generate powerful swings, due to naturally having longer levers, but there are plenty of examples of world-class fast bowlers who aren’t tall. Generally, height is known as an advantage to fast bowling, but accuracy is much more essential to the fast bowling style.

Which is Better, Fast Bowling or Spin Bowling?

Both fast bowling (also known as pace bowling) and spin bowling are techniques sharing the same goal, that is to get the better of batsmen and score a wicket. However, the different combinations of speed and flight make both a powerful weapon. However, looking at the strike rates, fast bowlers perform a significantly lower strike rate compared to spin bowlers.

New Innovations

Bowlers are always looking for new ways to confuse batters, and one of the more interesting innovations I’ve seen involves ambidextrous deliveries. There are at least two bowlers in the modern game who can deliver with their right arm as well as their left.

The most notable of these is the Sri Lankan spinner Kamindu Mendis. While this isn’t a completely new technique, his changes between hands hit the headlines, and became a sensation in the modern age of video sharing and social media.

Mendis is a regular part of the Sri Lankan squad, but has yet to start games consistently. Batting is his stronger suit and, at the time of writing, he has a highest test score of 182. He bowls right arm off breaks and left arm orthodox spin, but his returns with the ball are relatively modest.

In English county cricket, Glamorgan’s Ben Kellaway can also bowl with either arm. It’s fascinating to watch, but there are precedents in the game. In 2024, Kellaway became the first bowler to take wickets with different arms since Kent’s Charles Rowe in 1980. Along with Rowe, other bowlers have been ambidextrous, but the emergence of Kellaway and Mendis suggests we may see more of this in the future.

One point to remember if you’re trying this as a young bowler involves the umpire. You must inform the standing umpire that you are changing your delivery style. If not, your next delivery will be called as a no ball.

Final Thoughts

I personally think that each of these deliveries brings its unique flavour to the game of cricket but I’ve always been a fan of sheer pace and impressive spin. There’s nothing like seeing a fast bowler exceed the 90mph mark or a leg spinner turning the ball almost square.

Those are, for me, the pinnacle sof bowling in cricket and it’s always great to see the best pace and spin bowlers displaying their art.

For a more practical take on the bowling action, head to our complete guide on how to bowl in cricket.

The post All Types of Bowling in Cricket: The Complete Guide appeared first on Its Only Cricket.

What is Dew Factor in Cricket?

Dew is simply moisture that forms in the grass on the cricket outfield. It arises due to temperature differences between the ground and the air, and it appears with greater volume later in the day. The moisture can then affect the condition of the ball and of the cricket field itself.

How Does Dew Affect a Cricket Game?

For the Cricket Pitch

There are two parts of the surface to consider – the pitch and the outfield. Remember that the pitch is the 22-yard patch of grass where the action takes place.

As the game wears on and dew becomes a factor, the pitch can get slower and it can start to break up.

As for the outfield, the grass here is much longer and this area of the ground will be wetter. This is where the ball will pick up moisture as it travels along the surface.

For the Bowlers

The dew factor in a game will affect all types of bowlers. When the ball hits a wetter surface, it will lose some of its momentum. Lack of bounce can subsequently be an issue for all types of bowlers.

However, we should split those players into categories in order to fully understand the problems that they face.

Fast Bowlers

For all types of bowlers, the main problems thrown up by the dew factor relate to the grip. When the ball is wet, it is much harder to control and to produce a bowler’s regular skill set.

The specific problem for fast bowlers lies in their ability to shine the ball. All of the quicker bowlers will look to maintain a shine on one side while the other one is left to rough up. This aids the swing factor during the match.

When a ball becomes wet on the damp, dewy outfield, it starts to become impossible to maintain that shine. The ball then starts to become uniform in both of its hemispheres and is less likely to swing or move off the pitch.

The faster bowlers will now look to bowl cross seam deliveries in the hope that the ball will do something off the pitch. This can still give the bowling side an advantage but the inability to shine the ball is a big problem.

Spin Bowlers

Spinners will tell you that they have the biggest challenge of all when dew becomes a factor. Whether they are a leg spinner or an off spinner, the need to grip the ball tightly is imperative. When that ball becomes wet, it’s so much harder to apply that grip and control those deliveries.

The finger spinners (off spinners) have a tougher challenge, but all slower bowlers are affected. It’s extremely hard to get the revolutions on the ball that a finger spinner requires in order for it to turn.

For that reason, there is a greater reliance on line and length and changes of pace when the ball is wet. There are ways in which the spinners will be able to overcome things, but a wet ball is definitely a big disadvantage.

For the Batters

It’s generally accepted that it’s preferable to bat whenever dew becomes a factor. That’s generally the case but dew can still pose problems for the batters. We’ve seen that the pitch can become slower as dew starts to have an effect later in the day.

This can make it harder for the batters to time their shots. The ball will also become much softer and it will be harder to despatch to and beyond the boundary. The lack of bounce and pace off the wicket is another factor that can make things harder for those batters,

There are some disadvantages for the batting team but most of the issues with the dew factor lie with the fielding side.

For the Fielders

It becomes harder to field the ball effectively when the ground is wet. As the ball makes its way across the outfield, the dew can fly from the surface and this provides an initial distraction, but more problems are on their way.

A wet ball is much harder to catch and tougher to stop when it travels along the ground. The very nature of that damp surface means that it’s easy for the ball to slip out of the fielder’s hands when it makes contact.

Dropped catches can lose matches and this is another issue that the dew factor throws up.

Defence Against Dew

Dew is a natural phenomenon. External conditions mean that it’s always going to happen, particularly on hot humid days. There’s no way to stop it completely but there are methods in place that can weaken its effects.

It’s all down to the ground staff and how they prepare the pitch and the outfield. The first task is to keep the grass as low as possible. If there is less grass, there won’t be as much moisture in the pitch. The ball will still get wet, but the dampness isn’t as great as it would be in longer grass.

It’s also recommended by the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI), that the outfield isn’t watered for two to three days before the game. The conditions in India and in other countries across Asia can lead to a higher dew factor than in other parts of the world.

The pitch must still be watered but it is acceptable to leave the outfield without any additional watering prior to a game. This has the effect of making the outfield drier and it would be more likely to soak up any excess moisture during the match.

There are additional measures that can be taken during a game. Ropes and super soppers can remove the moisture between overs and during breaks for drinks and time outs. With effective drainage, these methods can help to keep dew levels down during playing time.

There is also a spray which can lessen the initial dew. However, this is less effective as the game wears on and it’s impossible for the ground staff to keep applying this spray during a match.

What Should I Do if Dew Affects a Game?

Your reaction to dew will largely depend on your role in the team. If you are the captain of the side, and dew is expected later in the game, you should ideally look to bowl first if you win the toss. As we’ve seen throughout this roundup, the dew factor tends to affect bowlers more than batters.

As a faster bowler, your ability to swing the ball is likely to decrease. Instead, you should aim to concentrate on line and length, and not deliver the ball too full or too short. You can also think about cross seam deliveries that may work well on a damp pitch.

Spinners have a harder time when the dew factor is in play. All they can really do is focus on that line and length. It will be harder to grip the ball and apply revolutions to it.

All bowlers should aim to keep the ball as dry as possible. Carry a rag onto the outfield and look to dry the ball after every delivery.

Fielders can help here too, by playing their part with ball drying. All fielders should also aim to keep their hands dry to prevent any excess moisture from getting in the way of ground fielding or catching.

As we’ve seen, batters have less of an issue with dew, but they should still take it into account. A pitch may suddenly produce low bounce that they will have to guard against. Hitting a wet ball may also impart some of that moisture onto the bat, and that could potentially damage your equipment.

Dew will affect all players in a team to a certain extent, so remember the issues that it can cause, and the steps you can take to deal with them.

Conclusion

There are some clear conclusions to draw after reading up on the dew factor. While all players will be affected in some way, the fielding side and, in particular, the bowlers, will have a much tougher time.

For that reason, it’s better to bat second in a day / night limited overs game where dew may be a factor later in the match.

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