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Image Learn to bowl leg spin Image Image
Image Image Image Around the Academy:
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Leg spinner

It may be the most difficult skill in cricket to master, but one thing's for sure - good leg spinners get bagfuls of wickets.

The world's second highest Test wicket taker, Shane Warne, is the man responsible for the leg spin revival.

He has proved so many times how effective good leg spin bowling can be, casting doubt and confusion in a batsman's mind.

So fancy bowling like him?

How the leg spin delivery should look on release
The third finger does most of the work

Well, it basically involves turning a ball off the pitch from the leg side of a right-handed batsman, to the off side.

It's often described as wrist spin because, unlike off spinners, the revolutions of the ball are generated by the wrist rather than the fingers.

Step one

The top joints of the index and middle fingers are across the seam, with the ball resting between a bent third finger and the thumb.

Step two

As you release the ball, straighten the fingers and much of the work on the ball will be done by the third finger, turning the ball anti-clockwise.

Flick the wrist so that the palm of the hand finishes facing downwards.


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Off spin
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Left-arm spin
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Leg spin
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Googly
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Flipper
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Top spinner
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'Doosra'
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Our guide to spin
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TIP: Once you can bowl leg spin there are numerous variations that you can learn to deceive a batsman, such as the googly. Pace and flight are also key weapons
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