What is Leg Spin Bowling in Cricket Sport?
Leg spin bowling is a type of bowling in cricket which can be hard to face for a batting side. It is skillful yet very deceptive and is an incredibly effective way to deceive batsmen and induce them into playing false shots. With the correct grip and wrist action, leg spin bowlers can achieve sharp turn, which makes it difficult for batsmen to read the line of the delivery.
Different Types of Leg Spin Bowling Deliveries
Leg spin bowlers employ a mixture of five different types of deliveries in order to deceive the batsman:
- Leg break – this is the most common type of delivery usually used by the leg spinner when bowling from the off-stump . It is delivered by pushing the ball within the palm of the hand, then pressing the index and middle fingers on top the the ball’s lower half while spinning it down towards the pitch.
- Top spinner – this delivery is achieved when the fingers are placed on top of the ball so that the palm of the hand is facing upwards. Turning the wrist as the ball is released gives the top spinner its distinctive dipping path.
- Googly – this delivery is one of the more deceptive types of leg spin bowling. It is achieved when the hand is turned over so that the seam is facing the batsman. The googly is delivered by pushing the ball with the middle finger to the left and the index finger to the right.
- Flipper – this is the fastest of all leg spin deliveries and is usually only used when the pitch is dry and hard. It is achieved by gripping the ball so that the middle finger and thumb are placed against the seam of the ball and pushing it down with the index finger and pushing with the heel of the hand.
- Slider – this is a very rare delivery, but is one of the most effective. This is achieved by gripping the ball with the middle and index finger on the seam and the thumb on top, then spinning the ball out of the hand and flicking the wrist at the same time.
Leg spin bowling is one of the most difficult types of bowling and requires a great deal of practice and skill. With the right grip and wrist action, a leg spinner can create a variety of different deliveries that can deceive and confuse the batsman. It is one of the most effective ways for a bowler to take wickets and is a very valuable weapon for any team.
What is the difference between leg spin bowling and off spin bowling in cricket?
Leg spin bowling is a type of bowling that uses a leg-break action to cause the ball to spin in an anticlockwise direction when looking at it from the batsman’s end of the pitch. It relies heavily on top spin and varies in speed, trajectory, and bounce.
Off spin bowling is a type of bowling used in cricket to spin the ball in a clockwise direction when looking at it from the batsman’s end of the pitch. It is often used on worn pitches where the ball turns quickly and can cause the ball to bounce in unexpected ways. Off spin bowlers tend to rely heavily on dip and flight to deceive the batsman.
What is the grip used for leg spin bowling?
The grip used for leg spin bowling is known as the ‘Classic Leg Spin Grip’. It involves gripping the ball with your index and middle finger on the seam, with your thumb tucked in underneath. Your ring finger and little finger should be on the side of the ball for additional control and power.