Different types of bowling in cricket

Whilst bowlers can be split into two clear categories; fast and spin, there are a multitude of different techniques that players use to deceive opposition batters.

Fast bowling

The most common type of bowling, fast bowling, as well as obviously relying on pace to get past opposition defences, also encompasses the art of swing and seam to take wickets.

Whilst some like to hurtle the ball down as fast as possible in an attempt to unsettle the batsman, there are more refined techniques used to challenge the opponent.

Swing

Swing bowlers manipulate the position and condition of the ball to gain movement through the air after release.

Inswing is used to bring the ball back into the batter whereas outswing takes the ball away from the batsman, increasing the likelihood of catching the outside edge through to the wicketkeeper.

Seam

Whilst swing sees movement in the air, seam bowling sees the ball move off the pitch at an unusual angle.

The pace at which the ball is delivered makes this extremely difficult for batters to combat.

Spin bowling

Delivered at a slower pace, spin bowling focuses on sharp off-the-pitch movement, flight and guile to deceive the opponent.

Leg spin

Leg break

The stock ball of the leg spinner, the bowler uses their wrist to turn the ball. A right-handed leggie will move the ball off the pitch away from a right handed batter.

Considered the more difficult of the two variations of spin, leg spin can be more effective than off spin when it comes to taking wickets.

Flipper

Exclusive to leg spinners, the flipper is squeezed out between the thumb and first two fingers with the intention of gaining fast movement off the pitch.

Googly

The googly moves in the opposite direction to the leggies stock delivery and is very hard to pick as it is delivered with the same grip.

Slider

By rolling their fingers down the side of the ball at release, leg spinners can get the ball to gather pace after it makes contact with the ball, often rushing the opposition batter.

Off spin

Off break

Often referred to as finger spin, the off break is the classic stock ball of the off spinner.

A right handed offie will turn the ball back into a right handed batter.

Whilst it may be harder to take wickets bowling off spin, it is easier to control the ball, meaning that bowlers are often used to reduce the opposition's run rate.

Doosra

Released with the intention of spinning in the opposite direction to a conventional off spin delivery, the bowler will aim to disguise the release of the ball in order to deceive the batsman.

Arm ball

Executed by the bowler keeping the seam upright and rolling their fingers down the back of the ball, it is less likely to spin, increasing the likelihood of trapping the batter on the crease and getting an LBW.