Amidst Chahal-Kuldeep show, find out why Wrist Spin is the most difficult art of bowling

India’s tour of South Africa is going like a cruise ship with men in blue winning the first three one day matches comprehensively. Indian team is playing superlative cricket and spin twins Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav are taking wickets left, right and centre (21 wickets combined after three matches). When we talk about cricket we think about batting, bowling, and fielding. Batting always gets box office preference and bowlers always get step-motherly treatment. Now, bowling is a complex art and especially leg spin is the most difficult art to master and conquer and it is not everyone’s cup of tea. Many professionals have tried their hand at wrist spin and have failed miserably. So, what is so special and unique about wrist spin? Let us walk through the fine prints and science behind wrist spin.

What exactly is wrist spin, and why is it difficult?

Wrist spin is delivered by releasing the ball from the back of the hand, and it passes over the little finger. While a right-handed bowler gives an anticlockwise rotation to the ball, a left-handed wrist spinner rotates the ball clockwise. Finger spin is where while bowling off spin you focus on your index finger and thumb to impart revolutions and other fingers playing a supporting role. One of the major reasons we don’t see many wrist spinners because it is very hard to control, and hence your consistency is not very great. There are chances of you bowling half tracker or long hops, and your economy also suffers, unless you are a Shane Warne.

Beginners guide to wrist spin: 

There are many variations of wrist spin such as googly, flipper, wrong’un, but your stock ball has to be very strong if you want to be a champion bowler. For a right-hander, ball goes away and for a left-hander ball comes in for a right arm leg break bowler. Recently, the trend of left-arm chinaman bowlers have increased and it is just as difficult art to practice. Successful leg spinners across eras have relied on getting their action right and you naturally get the bounce on any kind of surface because of high revolutions of spin and generally wrist spinners are more wicket-taking options as is being seen in the India-South Africa series. Another main differentiation between finger spin and wrist spin is that you can read the former more easily.

Look at some famous practitioners of this much revered and treasured art of wrist spin

1. Shane Warne:

 

The Australian maverick was a freak and a genius. Period. Warne made leg spin sexy and relevant again and took 708 Test wickets in 145 matches. The burly spinner had a never say die attitude and the only blemish was his poor record in India and against certain batsman called Sachin Tendulkar. The great thing about Warne was that he had many variations, but he had the tactical nous to use them cleverly and frugally. Warne has lived a colourful life and that’s what makes him a total show stopper on and off the field, literally.

2. Anil Kumble:

Former Indian captain Anil Kumble was a man who worked on his limitations and became great after years of struggle and dedication. Kumble wasn’t a big turner of a cricket ball but relied on bounce and change of pace. The studious and methodical engineer from Karnataka grabbed eye-popping 619 wickets in 132 matches and he did that by being boring and stubborn. Kumble will always go down in history as a bowler who took all 10 wickets in an innings (10/74 vs Pakistan, 1999) and was India’s biggest match winner in Test cricket without any debate.

3. Stuart MacGill:

This bowler would have walked into any team with his sheer presence and talent, but MacGill had the misfortune of being born in the same era as the great Shane Keith Warne. MacGill was a bustling bowler and had a real presence on the field and was a master craftsman. The leggie took 208 wickets in 44 matches with his unique action. There were times when both of them played together (very rarely though) MacGill outshone Warne and was a captain’s delight with being a genuine match winner. Not bad for a poor man’s Shane Warne, huh?

4. Mushtaq Ahmed:

Pakistan is a mercurial team on and off the field (don’t get me started), but when they step on the cricket field Pakistani cricketers get yellow fever and they become champions. Former Pakistani spinner Mushtaq Ahmed was a delight to watch when he was in his pomp. Ahmed was Pakistan’s surprise match winner during 1992 World Cup and then lost his way somehow (typical Pakistan). Ahmed still picked up 185 wickets in 52 Test matches and now is a world-renowned bowling coach and mentor.

5. Clarrie Grimmett:

Many readers from this generation might be searching this cricketer’s name on Google frantically, but cricket is an age-old game and Grimmett was a torch bearer for leg spin bowling and was a class in itself. Grimmett was a hard-nosed Aussie and had 216 sticks in 37 matches. Cricket has changed over the years, but fundamentals remain the same and those who have seen Grimmett ball can vouch that he was a perfectionist and was a cricketer par excellence.