Delivery (cricket)
Encyclopedia
A delivery or ball in cricket
is a single action of bowling
a cricket ball
towards the batsman.
During play of the game, a member of the fielding team is designated as the bowler, and bowls deliveries towards the batsman. Six balls in a row constitutes an over
, after which a different member of the fielding side takes over the role of bowler for the next over.
Two wickets, consisting of three wooden stakes driven into the ground in opposition to each other at either ends of the cricket pitch are called wickets . The bowler delivers the ball from his or her end of the pitch towards the batsman standing at the opposite wicket at the other end of the pitch. Bowlers can be either left handed or right handed. This approach to their delivery, in addition to their decision of bowling around the wicket (from the sides of the wicket on the bowler’s end) or over the wicket is knowledge which the umpire and the batsman should be aware of.
Fast bowlers, or pacers, are capable of giving deliveries that are launched towards the batsman at 100 mph.3 Supplementing their ability to send the ball down the field at such velocities are their long-run ups, which are usually longer than spinners’ run-ups. As variations in a bowler’s deliveries are a common tool to attack the batsman, pacers can alternate between bouncers (shorter length deliveries) and yorkers (full-length deliveries with the initial bounce occurring at the feet of the batsman).
Spinners in cricket are dubbed as the opposite of pace bowlers, due to their reliance on technique to deceive the opponent, in contrast to a pacer’s dependency on the velocity of the ball in order to overwhelm the batsman.3 In comparison to fast bowlers, spinners generally have a shorter run-up prior to the release of the ball.2 The spin on the ball applied by the bowler is intensified with the bouncing of the ball. Suresh Menon quotes Anil Kumble in explaining that spinning aims to deceive the batsman, “rendering them illiterate” and unable to anticipate the delivery they are facing. Much like pace bowlers, spinners tend to use different variations of spin deliveries in their over, such as the ‘googly’, where the ball switches to the opposite direction in relation to the trajectory it was initially following preceding the bounce.
There are many different types of delivery that a bowler can bowl. These deliveries vary by; technique, the hand the bowler bowls with, use of the fingers, use of the seam, how the ball is positioned in the hand, where the ball is pitched on the wicket, the speed of the ball, and the tactical intent of the bowler.
, are major weapons in a bowler's arsenal. Throughout an over, the bowler will choose a sequence of deliveries designed to attack the batsman's concentration and technique, in an effort to get him out
.
The bowler also varies the amount of loop and pace
imparted to various deliveries to try to cause the batsman to misjudge and make a mistake. As the crease
has a width, the bowler can change the angle from which he delivers to the batsman in an attempt to induce a misjudgement.
Usually, the bowler decides what type of delivery to bowl next, without consultation or even informing any other member of his team. Sometimes, the team captain
will offer advice or even issue a direct order regarding what deliveries to bowl, based on his observations of the batsman and the strategic state of the game. Another player who occasionally offers advice to the bowler is the wicket-keeper
, since he has a unique view of the batsman and may be able to spot weaknesses of technique.
Another piece of information important for the bowlers to consider prior to their deliveries is the state of pitch. The pitch is a natural ground and its state is subjected to variation over the course of the cricket, some of which are multi-day events such as test matches. Spinners find an old pitch, one that hasn’t been frequently utilized, more suitable to their deliveries rather than a fresh pitch, one that hasn’t come under use as much such as a pitch at the start of the match.
A recently retired cricketer who was greatly embroiled in controversy and under scrutiny from critics over his method of executing deliveries was the Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. Michael Selvey describes the accusations placed on the bowler in relation to his widely disputed bowling action and delivery, stating the Australian president’s reference to the Sri Lankan as a ‘chucker.’ The controversy linked to Muralitharan’s delivery emerged in 1995, when the umpire of the test match between Sri Lanka and Australia deemed Muralitharan’s delivery as illegal on the suspicion that he was throwing the ball. Selvey acknowledges this as the factor sparking an ‘international cricket incident,’ with critics and some extremists going as far as insisting on the exclusion of all of the Sri Lankan’s accomplishments throughout his career from the records of cricket. However, Suresh Menon takes an adamant stance on the topic of the controversy surrounding the spinner by displaying appreciation for Muralitharan’s actions. Menon suggests that investigation into Muralitharan’s deliveries led to the revelation of imperfections present in the bowling action and deliveries of the previously considered ‘picture-perfect’ fast bowler, Glenn McGrath. This was made possible with the usage of technology and its replacement of the earlier system, which Menon refers to as ‘the naked eye.’ Eventually, it was declared legal for the bowlers to bend their arm fifteen degrees for deliveries in cricket.
. The word ball in cricket usage does not imply anything about the accuracy of the delivery, unlike baseball's usage of ball to indicate a pitch outside the strike zone
. The cricket equivalent of a baseball ball is a wide or a no ball
.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
is a single action of bowling
Bowling (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, bowling is the action of propelling the ball toward the wicket defended by a batsman. A player skilled at bowling is called a bowler; a bowler who is also a competent batsman is known as an all-rounder...
a cricket ball
Cricket ball
A cricket ball is a hard, solid leather ball used to play cricket. Constructed of cork and leather, a cricket ball is heavily regulated by cricket law at first class level...
towards the batsman.
During play of the game, a member of the fielding team is designated as the bowler, and bowls deliveries towards the batsman. Six balls in a row constitutes an over
Over (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, an over is a set of six consecutive balls bowled in succession. An over is normally bowled by a single bowler. However, in the event of injury preventing a bowler from completing an over, it is completed by a teammate....
, after which a different member of the fielding side takes over the role of bowler for the next over.
Two wickets, consisting of three wooden stakes driven into the ground in opposition to each other at either ends of the cricket pitch are called wickets . The bowler delivers the ball from his or her end of the pitch towards the batsman standing at the opposite wicket at the other end of the pitch. Bowlers can be either left handed or right handed. This approach to their delivery, in addition to their decision of bowling around the wicket (from the sides of the wicket on the bowler’s end) or over the wicket is knowledge which the umpire and the batsman should be aware of.
Types of delivery
There are two distinct deliveries which are given by two types of bowlers. The first is a ‘seam’ delivery given by what are generally the faster bowlers often called ‘pace bowlers.’ The second approach to bowling in cricket is the spin, delivered by players referred to as ‘spinners.’Fast bowlers, or pacers, are capable of giving deliveries that are launched towards the batsman at 100 mph.3 Supplementing their ability to send the ball down the field at such velocities are their long-run ups, which are usually longer than spinners’ run-ups. As variations in a bowler’s deliveries are a common tool to attack the batsman, pacers can alternate between bouncers (shorter length deliveries) and yorkers (full-length deliveries with the initial bounce occurring at the feet of the batsman).
Spinners in cricket are dubbed as the opposite of pace bowlers, due to their reliance on technique to deceive the opponent, in contrast to a pacer’s dependency on the velocity of the ball in order to overwhelm the batsman.3 In comparison to fast bowlers, spinners generally have a shorter run-up prior to the release of the ball.2 The spin on the ball applied by the bowler is intensified with the bouncing of the ball. Suresh Menon quotes Anil Kumble in explaining that spinning aims to deceive the batsman, “rendering them illiterate” and unable to anticipate the delivery they are facing. Much like pace bowlers, spinners tend to use different variations of spin deliveries in their over, such as the ‘googly’, where the ball switches to the opposite direction in relation to the trajectory it was initially following preceding the bounce.
There are many different types of delivery that a bowler can bowl. These deliveries vary by; technique, the hand the bowler bowls with, use of the fingers, use of the seam, how the ball is positioned in the hand, where the ball is pitched on the wicket, the speed of the ball, and the tactical intent of the bowler.
- Leg spinLeg spinLeg spin is a type of spin bowling in the sport of cricket. A leg spinner bowls right-arm with a wrist spin action, causing the ball to spin from right to left in the cricket pitch, at the point of delivery. When the ball bounces, the spin causes the ball to deviate sharply from right to left, that...
deliveries and mirror equivalents for left arm unorthodox spin:- Leg breakLeg breakA leg break is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. A delivery of a right-handed leg spin bowler. Leg breaks are also colloquially known as leggies or wrist spinners, as the wrist is the body part which is primarily used to impart spin on the ball, as opposed to the fingers in the case of...
- GooglyGooglyIn cricket, a googly is a type of delivery bowled by a right-arm leg spin bowler. It is occasionally referred to as a Bosie , an eponym in honour of its inventor Bernard Bosanquet.- Explanation :...
- TopspinnerTopspinnerA top-spinner is a type of delivery bowled by a cricketer bowling either wrist spin or finger spin. In either case, the bowler imparts the ball with top spin by twisting it with his or her fingers prior to delivery...
- FlipperFlipper (cricket)The flipper is the name of a particular bowling delivery used in cricket, generally by a leg spin bowler. In essence it is a back spin ball. Squeezed out of the front of the hand with the thumb and first and second fingers, it keeps deceptively low after pitching and can accordingly be very...
- SliderSlider (cricket)In cricket, a slider is a type of delivery bowled by a wrist spin bowler. Whereas a topspinner is released with the thumb facing the batsman, a slider is bowled with the thumb facing the bowler. On release the wrist and ring finger work to impart backspin to the ball. A topspinner tends to dip more...
- Flicker Ball
- Leg break
- Off spinOff spinOff spin is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket which is bowled by an off spinner, a right-handed spin bowler who uses his or her fingers and/or wrist to spin the ball from a right-handed batsman's off side to the leg side...
deliveries and mirror equivalents for left arm orthodox spin:- Off breakOff breakOff break is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. It is the attacking delivery of an off spin bowler. Off breaks are known as off spinners....
- DoosraDoosraA doosra is a particular type of delivery by an off-spin bowler in the sport of cricket, invented by Pakistani cricketer Saqlain Mushtaq. The term means " second ", or " other " in Urdu...
- Arm ballArm ballAn arm ball is a type of delivery in cricket. It is a variation delivery bowled by an off spin bowler or slow left-arm orthodox bowler. It is the finger spin equivalent of a wrist spinner's slider or zooter....
- TopspinnerTopspinnerA top-spinner is a type of delivery bowled by a cricketer bowling either wrist spin or finger spin. In either case, the bowler imparts the ball with top spin by twisting it with his or her fingers prior to delivery...
- Carrom ballCarrom BallThe carrom ball is a style of spin bowling delivery used in cricket. The ball is released by flicking it between the thumb and a bent middle finger in order to impart spin. Though the delivery is known to date from at least the 1940s, it was re-introduced into mainstream international cricket in...
- TeesraTeesraThe Teesra also known as the Jalebi is a delivery alleged to have been invented by renowned off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq.However upon closer inspection, the ball is simply an orthodox backspinner, a very common delivery that has been bowled by finger spinners as long as cricket has been played.The...
- Off break
- Fast bowlingFast bowlingFast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
deliveries:- BouncerBouncer (cricket)In the sport of cricket, a bouncer is a type of delivery, usually bowled by a fast bowler. It is pitched short so that it bounces on the pitch well short of the batsman and rears up to chest or head height as it reaches the batsman.Bouncers are used tactically to drive the batsman back on to his...
- InswingerInswingerAn inswinger is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. It is bowled by swing bowlers.-Grip:An inswinger is bowled by holding the cricket ball with the seam vertical and the first two fingers slightly across the seam so that it is angled a little to the leg side...
- Reverse swing
- Leg cutterLeg cutterA leg cutter is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. It is bowled by fast bowlers.A bowler releases a normal fast delivery with the wrist locked in position and the first two fingers positioned on top of the cricket ball, giving it spin about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the length of...
- Off cutterOff cutterAn off cutter is a type of delivery in the game of cricket. It is bowled by fast bowlers.A bowler releases a normal fast delivery with the wrist locked in position and the first two fingers positioned on top of the cricket ball, giving it spin about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the length of...
- OutswingerOutswingerAn outswinger is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. It is bowled by swing bowlers.An outswinger is bowled by holding the cricket ball with the seam at an angle and the first two fingers running along either side of the seam...
- YorkerYorkerYorker is a term used in cricket that describes a ball bowled which hits the cricket pitch around the batsman's feet. When a batsman assumes a normal stance this generally means that the cricket ball bounces on the cricket pitch on or near the batsman's popping crease...
- BeamerBeamer (cricket)In the terminology of the game of cricket, a beamer is a type of delivery in which the ball , without bouncing, passes above the batsman's waist height. Such a ball is often dangerously close to the batsman's head, due to the lack of control a bowler has over high full tosses...
(illegal)
- Bouncer
Tactical considerations
The variations in different types of delivery, as well as variations caused by directing the ball with differing line and lengthLine and length
Line and length in cricket refers to the direction and point of bouncing on the pitch of a delivery. The two concepts are frequently discussed together.-Line:...
, are major weapons in a bowler's arsenal. Throughout an over, the bowler will choose a sequence of deliveries designed to attack the batsman's concentration and technique, in an effort to get him out
Dismissal (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a dismissal occurs when the batsman is out . Colloquially, the fielding team is also said to have snared, bagged or captured a wicket. At this point a batsman must discontinue batting and leave the field permanently for the innings...
.
The bowler also varies the amount of loop and pace
Slower ball
In the sport of cricket, a slower ball is a slower-than-usual delivery from a fast bowler. The bowler's intention is to deceive the batsman into playing too early so that he either misses the ball completely or hits it high up in the air to offer an easy catch...
imparted to various deliveries to try to cause the batsman to misjudge and make a mistake. As the crease
Crease (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, the crease is a certain area demarcated by white lines painted or chalked on the field of play.The term crease also refers to any of the lines themselves, particularly the popping crease. Law 9 of the Laws of Cricket governs the size and position of the crease markings...
has a width, the bowler can change the angle from which he delivers to the batsman in an attempt to induce a misjudgement.
Usually, the bowler decides what type of delivery to bowl next, without consultation or even informing any other member of his team. Sometimes, the team captain
Captain (cricket)
The captain of a cricket team often referred to as the skipper is the appointed leader, having several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player...
will offer advice or even issue a direct order regarding what deliveries to bowl, based on his observations of the batsman and the strategic state of the game. Another player who occasionally offers advice to the bowler is the wicket-keeper
Wicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
, since he has a unique view of the batsman and may be able to spot weaknesses of technique.
Another piece of information important for the bowlers to consider prior to their deliveries is the state of pitch. The pitch is a natural ground and its state is subjected to variation over the course of the cricket, some of which are multi-day events such as test matches. Spinners find an old pitch, one that hasn’t been frequently utilized, more suitable to their deliveries rather than a fresh pitch, one that hasn’t come under use as much such as a pitch at the start of the match.
The Batsman’s anticipation of the delivery
While a bowler, with the use of variations in his/her delivery aims to target the concentration of batsmen as well as their skill and technique of batting, anticipation of the delivery is crucial for the batmen, as emphasized by Jodi Richardson. Richardson reveals the world class batsman’s dilemma while facing fast bowlers, stating that the time between the batsmen’s anticipation of the trajectory of the ball and positioning themselves for the appropriate shot can be twice as long as the interval between the bowl leaving the bowler’s hand and reaching the batsman’s crease. Side by side, Richardson alludes to the research undertaken by Dr. Sean Miller in Australia which was partly funded by The Cricket Australia Centre of Excellence. The results of the research demonstrated the importance of anticipation of the delivery for batsmen in cricket. They revealed that experienced batsmen possessed a unique ability which enabled them to adjust their feet as well as their positioning on the crease accordingly based upon their reading of the body language and movements enacted by the bowler prior to the release of the ball. This foresight that batsmen utilize while on the crease is referred to as ‘advance information’ by Richardson. Moreover, Miller’s research outlined that the presence of this ‘advance information’ was not as evident among the lesser skilled batsmen in comparison to the experienced ones.Controversies and Debate Involving Deliveries
Deliveries by bowlers have been subjected to a number of controversies and disputes. One such incident occurred in 1981, which was dubbed by the Prime Minister of New Zealand at the time as “the most disgusting incident” which he could recall in the sport. Abishek Ragunath’s article published in Forbes India magazine gives an account of the events that unfolded on the day. The match between Australia and New Zealand for the Hedges Cup came right down to the last delivery of the game, where the New Zealand batsman Brian McKechnie required six runs off it to draw the game. In an effort to disable the batsman from hitting six runs off the last ball, the Australian captain Greg Chappell instructed his bowler to execute an underarm delivery along the ground. Such underarm deliveries render the batsman unable to score six runs, as to accomplish such a feat requires the batsman to hit the ball outside the cricket ground without any bounce of the ball while it is on its path to clear the boundary. While New Zealand required six runs to draw the game, the Australian team executed the underarm delivery which the batsman confronted the delivery with a simple deflection, leaving Australia victors. At the time, such deliveries in cricket were legal, but after the incident and the series which Australia went on to win, underarm deliveries were banned.A recently retired cricketer who was greatly embroiled in controversy and under scrutiny from critics over his method of executing deliveries was the Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. Michael Selvey describes the accusations placed on the bowler in relation to his widely disputed bowling action and delivery, stating the Australian president’s reference to the Sri Lankan as a ‘chucker.’ The controversy linked to Muralitharan’s delivery emerged in 1995, when the umpire of the test match between Sri Lanka and Australia deemed Muralitharan’s delivery as illegal on the suspicion that he was throwing the ball. Selvey acknowledges this as the factor sparking an ‘international cricket incident,’ with critics and some extremists going as far as insisting on the exclusion of all of the Sri Lankan’s accomplishments throughout his career from the records of cricket. However, Suresh Menon takes an adamant stance on the topic of the controversy surrounding the spinner by displaying appreciation for Muralitharan’s actions. Menon suggests that investigation into Muralitharan’s deliveries led to the revelation of imperfections present in the bowling action and deliveries of the previously considered ‘picture-perfect’ fast bowler, Glenn McGrath. This was made possible with the usage of technology and its replacement of the earlier system, which Menon refers to as ‘the naked eye.’ Eventually, it was declared legal for the bowlers to bend their arm fifteen degrees for deliveries in cricket.
Comparison to baseball
A delivery or ball in cricket is analogous to a pitch in baseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. The word ball in cricket usage does not imply anything about the accuracy of the delivery, unlike baseball's usage of ball to indicate a pitch outside the strike zone
Strike zone
In baseball, the strike zone is a conceptual right pentagonal prism over home plate which defines the boundaries through which a pitch must pass in order to count as a strike when the batter does not swing.-Definition:...
. The cricket equivalent of a baseball ball is a wide or a no ball
No ball
In the sport of cricket a no ball is a penalty against the fielding team, usually as a result of an illegal delivery by the bowler. The delivery of a no ball results in one run to be added to the batting team's score, and an additional ball must be bowled...
.