In-Swing
Also known as: inswing, inswinger, in-swinger
In-swing is conventional swing bowling where the ball curves in the air from off to leg (in towards the body of a right-handed batter), often targeting the stumps or pads.
An in-swinging delivery is held with the seam upright and the shiny side to the off side; the aerodynamics cause the ball to curve through the air towards the leg side. For a right-handed batter, the ball moves in towards the body and the stumps. An in-swinger poses different challenges to an out-swinger: it can trap the batter LBW if it starts on a full length aimed at off stump and curves in to hit the stumps; it can also shatter the stumps if the batter plays outside the line. Batters must guard both the stumps and the pads and can be "pinned" — unable to play freely — by consistent in-swing. The angle of swing, the amount of swing, and whether it happens early or late in the delivery all affect how dangerous the in-swinger is.
Example
The bowler swings the new ball late into the right-handed batter's pads from outside off stump; the batter misses it and is given LBW.
Why it matters
In-swing attacks the stumps and pads in a way the out-swinger cannot. SwingVantage's cricket analysis (in development) will measure seam position and release alignment so bowlers can understand which variations produce in-swing consistently.
Related terms
- Out-SwingOut-swing is conventional swing bowling where the ball curves in the air from leg to off (away from the body of a right-handed batter), enticing an edge towards the slip cordon.
- Swing BowlingSwing bowling is making a fast-bowled ball curve sideways through the air — toward the batter (inswing) or away (outswing) — by using the seam angle and the ball’s shine.
- LBW (Leg Before Wicket)LBW is a way of being out: if the ball would have hit the stumps but the batter’s pad (leg) intercepts it first — under specific conditions — the umpire can rule them leg before wicket.
- Seam BowlingSeam bowling is a style of pace bowling where the ball is gripped so the seam is upright and the ball lands on the seam, causing it to deviate unpredictably off the pitch.
Put this into your swing
SwingVantage can spot this in your own swing — free to start.