Different Types of Bowling in Cricket

Ever wondered what bowling styles your favorite cricketers opt for in the field? When Naseem scores against the opponent with his skilled fast bowling paired with an irresistible charm or when Shaheen takes the wicket as the ball leaves his hand and paces fast across the pitch, they may leave us wondering what tricks they use while bowling.

Keep on reading to find different types of bowling in cricket which makes the match interesting and captivating. These majorly include fast bowling, medium and spin bowling which may be left-handed or right-handed.

1. Fast Bowling

Also known as Pace bowling, the trick of Fast Bowling is still used presently and has been used in the past by numerous players in the field. When the speed of the cricket ball exceeds 90 miles per hour across the pitch, it is characterized as fast bowling. Fast bowlers use the “swing” or “seam” movement while bowling, which creates an effect of unpredictability for the batter.

Moreover, fast bowling can also devour the spirits of an inexperienced batsman as this kind of ball may get intimidating to play during the match. As the fast bowling requires effort and exertion, the bowler cannot continue fast bowling for long intervals.

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There are further types of fast bowling which include:

Yorker: A full-pitched delivery aimed at the batsman’s toes, difficult to play and often used to target the stumps.
Bouncer: A short-pitched delivery aimed at the batsman’s head or upper body, used to force the batsman onto the back foot.
Leg Cutter: The ball moves away from the batsman after pitching due to the bowler’s wrist position.
Off Cutter: The ball moves into the batsman after pitching due to the bowler’s wrist position.
Slow Ball: A slower-paced delivery bowled with a change in grip or action.
Swing Bowling: Bowler aims to make the ball move either towards or away from the batsman in the air.
Leg spin: The ball spins from the leg side to the off side for right-handed batsmen causing the ball to turn sharply off the pitch.
Reverse Swing: Ball swings in the opposite direction to swing bowling, caused by roughing up one side of the ball and keeping the other shiny.
Seam Bowling: The bowler aims to make the ball change its path off the pitch by landing it on the seam, causing unpredictable movement.

2. Medium Bowling

The ball is referred to as Medium pace bowling when the ball travels at 75 miles per hour and lower. As compared to fast bowling, it does not tire the body as it uses lesser force. However, it should not be underestimated as many players choose medium bowling to play during their cricket matches.

3. Spin Bowling

Spin bowling refers to the kind of bowling whose speed is less than 70 miles per hour. It is slower than fast bowling and involves gripping the ball using unique finger and hand techniques. Moreover, spin bowling relies on the ground surface to change the direction of the ball upon throwing. Hence, causing it to spin and twist to a different angle than what was anticipated. This confuses the batter and makes the shot a tricky one to hit.

Despite being slow, spin bowling requires focus, vigilance and mental calculations from the batter in order to be played right. Dry patches act as a great surface for spin bowling.

Here are a few types of spin bowling:

Off Spin: A spin bowling technique where the ball spins from the off side to the leg side for right-handed batsmen.
Doosra: A deceptive off-spin delivery that spins in the opposite direction to a conventional off-spinner.
Top Spinner: Heavy wrist spin delivery with the ball released with the thumb facing the batsmen.
Slider: Heavy wrist spin delivery with the ball released with the thumb facing the bowler.
Arm Ball: The bowler uses their arm to generate pace and keep the ball straight.
Leg Spin: The ball spins from the leg side to the off side for right-handed batsmen.
Flicker: Bowled with a twist of the wrist, often used to generate a sharp turn.
Flipper: Similar to Slider, but slightly difficult to play as the ball keeps low and may generate backspin
Carrom Ball: The bowler flicks the ball with his thumb and middle finger, causing a great spin.

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The Takeaway

In conclusion, these are all the various types of bowling in cricket which the cricketers use as skillful techniques to play and show their dominance over the batsmen. Bowling is just as important a part in cricket as is bowling. Every bowler is skilled in different types of bowling techniques which they use according to their advantage and make their game a success.

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