The Leg Spin Thread

[Zach Package]

not that i'm going to detail my weekly leg spinning, but this deserves a special mention.

I successfully bowled the flipper on saturday. I dragged the previous ball short and was rightly pulled for four, so i thought i'd try and pitch in a similar spot and see if i can skid it through.
Unfortunately the bouce of the synthetic pitch did me in, and it bounced just over off stump.

Still a fantastic feeling to leave the batsmen all at sea when they thought they had another boundary.

Bloody hard to bowl though

 

[swiftdog]

Nice work Jack Package. Want to work on either a flipper or slider myself. Does anyone have any preference or find one easier to bowl than the other?

Finding it hard not to bowl a full toss at the moment with either delivery. Flipper seems a little easier to bowl but I'm not sure it will be as effective on a synthetic pitch with a flatter, harder trajectory compared to a slider. I definitely need to add one or the other to the arsenal.

 

[Zach Package]

The flipper is a completely different motion of the fingers and is a lot more obvious, however if you do it right you can get the classic 'alec stewart' style dismissal.

The slider is in theory easier to bowl, if you bowl it with your palm facing the batsmen like warnie does.
However I struggle getting the ball not to turn, so I make do just trying to spin it less than my stock ball.

 

[Zach Package]

further to my previous point. apologies for the shitty quality.

 

[Marklar_33]

Thanks for that video, I'm going to be bowling tennis balls up the hallway all night

Our current leg-spinner is rumoured to be playing his last year, think I might start now to try to get back to where I was as a junior!

 

[Omega Blue]

Nice work Jack Package. Want to work on either a flipper or slider myself. Does anyone have any preference or find one easier to bowl than the other?

Finding it hard not to bowl a full toss at the moment with either delivery. Flipper seems a little easier to bowl but I'm not sure it will be as effective on a synthetic pitch with a flatter, harder trajectory compared to a slider. I definitely need to add one or the other to the arsenal.

much better for your development than bouncing them in keep bowling length will come if your a lil worried deliver from a step or two further back

 

[Rack Watts]

Hey guys, glad I looked at this thread, could use some help, maybe some references as to who bowls in a similar way to me, if anyone.

I actually only started learning how to bowl leg-spin when the first IPL season started, I was loving watching the Rajasthan Royals and Shane Warne play, picked them as a team at the start of the season as they had the least money for players, ended up winning it.

I always enjoyed watching Shane play, but T20 brought in a new love for leg-spinning. I loved the strategy involved, so many horizontal shots get played in T20, giving the leg spinner quite an advantage seeing as you can get huge revolutions on the ball.
I haven't played a game yet, every couple of weeks when I get time I take about 8-9 balls of different wear down to the nets and just practice hitting the right spot with my stock leggy, it's taken me a while, I'm starting to get it though. I have always wanted to play cricket, but wanted to develop my skills to a level that I was confident I wasn't going to be a total burden to a team.

I have an unorthodox grip, initially I was trying to bowl like Warnie, with the seam running the same way as the knuckle lines on the inside of the fingers. Unfortunately I was physically unable to do it, due to a skate boarding as a youngster my right wrist doesn't move to one side very well. SO I adopted a different grip, where I put the ball in between my index and middle finger with the seam running up along with the fingers, instead of rolling my wrist from side to side when I bowl, I have to roll it from front to back, but sideways (I hope this makes sense to someone).

I have to use a rounder arm movement than most leggies (about 40 degrees) so this forces the ball to rip pretty hard when I roll the arm over. It makes it quite hard to land, but am starting to do it quite consistently.

Is there any other leggie in history that has had a similar action on a competitive level?

 

[Rack Watts]

This is how I hold it, read above for how I bowl the delivery.
Is it legal?

 

[Zach Package]

it's sounding very Bill O'Rielly to me.

Obviously before my time but he bowled these quickish leggies with an unorthodox grip and a medium pace like run up.

Each to their own, doesn't matter how ******ed it may look to the naked eye, as long as your command is there you'll have some success at club level.
A lot of success if you have the command and a few tricks.

Edit: Everything's legal, as long as you stay above the horizontal with your arm.

 

[Rack Watts]

Thanks for the feedback dude I'll do some research on Bill O'Rielly, it would be awesome to have someone to look at with a similar style to me.
I have a mate who I bowl to in the nets, he used to play 19's state cricket with Hilfy and Lockyer, he loves coming down for a hit. Recently he's admitted that he's not keen on it often as it's gotten to the point where he's having trouble getting me away.
I'm trying to bowl the ball the same way but with subtle variations of variables, such as how fast I roll my arm over, where I release the ball, how many revs I try to get, but I always try to hit the same spot.
Due to the way I bowl, it's hard to read my top spinners, but due to my wrist being twisted so far when I deliver, I'm not sure I can ever have a wrong'un.
Good to know that what I am doing it legal, I'm gonna get a few lessons over the winter instead of playing Rugby this winter and hopefully play some cricket the following summer, can't wait!

 

[Marklar_33]

Zimbabwean Paul Strang also bowled like this...as did I! Terry Jenner had never seen anything like it when he saw me, even though a second kid at our clinic was doing the same thing!

Edit: Typed 'Paul Strang' into YouTube on my phone. First video that came up was 4/32 vs SL at Sharjah. Check out the slow motion front on shot of the Ranatunga dismissal. Shows the unique style

 

[Rack Watts]

Zimbabwean Paul Strang also bowled like this...as did I! Terry Jenner had never seen anything like it when he saw me, even though a second kid at our clinic was doing the same thing!

Edit: Typed 'Paul Strang' into YouTube on my phone. First video that came up was 4/32 vs SL at Sharjah. Check out the slow motion front on shot of the Ranatunga dismissal. Shows the unique style

OMG, thank you!
It's great to know someone managed to do this action at a high level, means it's feasible!
Not to mention the fact that it's good to have someone like yourself who also has experience doing this.
Are you self taught (pre-Terry Jenner) like myself? I think it's a great way to bowl, have you noticed the extra revs the ball gets in the air with our style? I've noticed that Strang has an upright arm, similar to Kumble but bowls in our way, he appears to getting heaps of bounce and dip. I guess if you're getting the batman to look up before he hits it, it's harder to judge where it's going to go.

 

[Marklar_33]

Yeah, I'm self taught, but unlike you, I bowled across the seam, effectively meaning I'd never get any drift. Now that I'm trying to start again, I'm teaching myself the more traditional method.

I did seem to get more revs, but also had the added 'bonus' of getting little to no bounce when I played on turf, because I bowled low arm with no overspin whatsoever! On ordinary country wickets, this was gold for an over or 2!

 

[Omega Blue]

Hey guys, glad I looked at this thread, could use some help, maybe some references as to who bowls in a similar way to me, if anyone.

I actually only started learning how to bowl leg-spin when the first IPL season started, I was loving watching the Rajasthan Royals and Shane Warne play, picked them as a team at the start of the season as they had the least money for players, ended up winning it.

I always enjoyed watching Shane play, but T20 brought in a new love for leg-spinning. I loved the strategy involved, so many horizontal shots get played in T20, giving the leg spinner quite an advantage seeing as you can get huge revolutions on the ball.
I haven't played a game yet, every couple of weeks when I get time I take about 8-9 balls of different wear down to the nets and just practice hitting the right spot with my stock leggy, it's taken me a while, I'm starting to get it though. I have always wanted to play cricket, but wanted to develop my skills to a level that I was confident I wasn't going to be a total burden to a team.

I have an unorthodox grip, initially I was trying to bowl like Warnie, with the seam running the same way as the knuckle lines on the inside of the fingers. Unfortunately I was physically unable to do it, due to a skate boarding as a youngster my right wrist doesn't move to one side very well. SO I adopted a different grip, where I put the ball in between my index and middle finger with the seam running up along with the fingers, instead of rolling my wrist from side to side when I bowl, I have to roll it from front to back, but sideways (I hope this makes sense to someone).

I have to use a rounder arm movement than most leggies (about 40 degrees) so this forces the ball to rip pretty hard when I roll the arm over. It makes it quite hard to land, but am starting to do it quite consistently.

Is there any other leggie in history that has had a similar action on a competitive level?

Whats your ball flight look like? this would be my only concernwith the round arm action.
i have found that the trick with spin is making sure the batsman struggles to judge where the ball will land using drift and flight.
spinning the ball is one thing but if the batsman can easily see where the ball will pitch they will quickly adapt to the spin of the ball no matter how much it will spin.
i wish you all the best with your technique, because the world needs more leggies regaurdless on our differences

 

[Rack Watts]

What's your ball flight look like? this would be my only concern with the round arm action.

I have been using a higher arm action the last few days in the nets, as my main man Marklar_33 showed me Paul Strang's stuff. it's improved my accuracy out of sight! I get heaps of dip, my mate was saying it's harder to play as it "dives at the ground quickly" and I get big bounce, I've lost a fair bit of turn though, but it deviates just enough to get edges.

I wish you all the best with your technique, because the world needs more leggies regaurdless on our differences

Thanks buddy! As silly and unrealistic as it is I was sort of hoping to see how far I can get before I expire in age, starting next season Obviously not thinking first class or anything, just a high-ish club level.

 

[Omega Blue]

I have been using a higher arm action the last few days in the nets, as my main man Marklar_33 showed me Paul Strang's stuff. it's improved my accuracy out of sight! I get heaps of dip, my mate was saying it's harder to play as it "dives at the ground quickly" and I get big bounce, I've lost a fair bit of turn though, but it deviates just enough to get edges.


Thanks buddy! As silly and unrealistic as it is I was sort of hoping to see how far I can get before I expire in age, starting next season Obviously not thinking first class or anything, just a high-ish club level.

we all start somewhere, the more spinners the better if your like me and many here i'm sick of captains giving the ball the fast bowlers

 

[Rack Watts]

we all start somewhere, the more spinners the better if your like me and many here i'm sick of captains giving the ball the fast bowlers

Haha, if the ball is shiny, I understand, but if you want wickets, we're your men
I just love the strategy you can employ, you're in full control of the ball, with swing, you're not, with seaming, you're not.

 

[Rack Watts]

Hey guys, made a couple of quick videos doing some legspin.
Any feedback on technique, run up and where to try to land it would be fantastic
The camera is halfway up the stumps in the videos.





As Marklar said earlier, I wrist technique and ball release to Paul Strang, this is a video of him bowling, below.

 

[PTizzle]

It looks pretty solid mate, keep working at it. I'm not really in a position to offer advice .

I recently discovered my mate who plays a fairly high level of grade cricket is a leggie! I've been going down to the nets with him once a week or so, he has a killer wrongun which does me in a lot. But the important thing is that he's taught me to get my balls to land properly.

I actually wrist spin it which I didn't really realise, I just did whatever felt natural. I've managed to work out how to bowl one that goes straight on which is good for fooling people.

I'm just not getting much flight bowling wrist spin, are there any tips for this? It tends to go fairly flat and straight, it turns a decent amount but it seems to be too predictable as it currently is.


I watched Muirhead debut in the Shield the other day too, looks fairly decent. Very Warne-esque run up. A lot of them were a bit loose but he bowled some very nice balls too.

 

[swiftdog]

Sounds a bit like my bowling at times. A couple of things that may help:

1) I spin the ball towards 3rd slip rather than trying to rip it sideways as much as possible. This puts some topspin on the ball and allows it to dip towards the end of the flight. A small variation I do is to spin the ball more towards 1-2nd slip to bats who like to come down the pitch. This ball tends to dip a little more and hopefully leads to a wicket.

2) As I walk in to bowl all I picture in my head is the flight of the ball I want to bowl, I can't explain why but it helps tremendously. If you want to emulate your mate then watch your mate bowl and picture your ball flighting like his does. You've also got to 100% back yourself to throw the ball up there and be confident that you've done enough with the ball for it to pitch and turn like you want it to. Easier said than done.

 

[Zach Package]

another couple of things to add to what swiftdog said:

Don't always try to spin it as hard as possible. In my experience you lose your shape (both with the ball in flight and in your action) when you try to rip the shit out of the thing.

Try to use a bit more top spin. IMO my perfect leggie will be spinning at 45 degrees to the line of the stumps, rather than at 90 degrees. It gives you that bit of dip which IMO is just as important as spin (which you still get), and also gives you a bigger margin for error since the top spin can take what would be a full toss and make it into a length ball.

 

[PTizzle]

Cheers guys, my mate did say I was getting a bit of dip (usually when I was trying for the one that went straight on, it got more top spin than the others) at times.

It's funny you say picture it in your head Swiftdog, because that's what my mate said to actually get me to start landing mine properly. They used to turn but spray randomly, but he said focus on the spot on the pitch and picture the ball going there as you go up and it really did help. Like you said, hard to explain but it did work for me.

I realised in lower level cricket, which is what I'm going to be doing later this year, it'll probably help me a lot to get that 'dip' and accuracy a lot more than turning it heaps, so I'm gonna work on that. My mate seems to use his fingers more - he says he's now a batsman more than bowler because his balls turn a heap and he doesn't get a lot of wickets that way. Cheers.

 

[ajdude]

hey guys, just thought i'd pop in with a quick thought. i've flirted with the idea of leggies for a few years but i could never get a leg-break to turn. i had a decent wrong-un and top spinner though. more recently i tried bowling a stock leg-break by rotating the palm of my hand to face left/across my body (i'm a right arm bowler), more like a back-spinner yet i've found that for whatever reason it turns like a leg-break pretty decently. i have a problem with it though because i get that it's not right at all; should i be content with the fact that it works for me or should i be trying to bowl it properly (seam facing first slip, palm facing fine leg)?

 

[PTizzle]

As long as it's legal I'd say do whatever works for you mate. Everyone has their own way of doing things.

If you read back earlier in the thread BiPolarBear was asking about his action too, turns out someone else did something similar on the international stage!

 

[ajdude]

yeah it's definitely legal, i'm just worried i'd be compromising any flight/drift or anything by bowling it the way i do. like i figure it's taught a certain way because it works best, but i suppose in a way this works best for me.

i saw that and thought that myself! so i'll just stick with what works i guess haha i was just surprised that it turns like a leg-break with that wrist position thanks mate!