Playing Spin Bowling
Also known as: playing spin, batting against spin, facing spin bowling, how to play spin, playing spinners, batting against spinners, playing leg spin, batting against leg spin, playing off spin, batting against off spin
To play spin bowling, watch the bowler's hand to read which way the ball will turn and pick up the length early. Be decisive with your feet. Go right forward to smother the spin at the pitch, or right back to play it late off the pitch. Keep your bat in front of your pad and score by playing with the turn.
Playing spin starts before the ball is bowled. Watch the bowler's hand and wrist at release, not just the ball in the air. For a right-handed batter, an off-break turns in from the off side towards the pads. A leg-break turns away towards the slips. A googly looks like a leg-break but turns in like an off-break. Watch the flight too. A ball that dips early is likely to land shorter than it first looked. Seeing the spin and the length early gives you time to choose your footwork.
Most coaches stress one idea above the rest: be decisive. Go fully forward to smother the ball at the pitch, before it has room to turn. Or go fully back to give yourself time to watch it turn off the pitch. A half-forward, half-back position is where edges and bat-pad catches come from. Using your feet to come down the pitch can turn a good-length ball into a half-volley or a full toss. Keep the bat in front of the pad and let the ball come to soft hands. That stops edges carrying to close fielders.
Score by playing with the turn where you can. For a right-hander, that usually means the leg side against an off-spinner and the off side against a leg-spinner. Working the ball into gaps for singles stops a spinner settling. The sweep, reverse sweep and slog sweep are further options against a full ball. They carry LBW and top-edge risk if you misjudge the line or length. On a turning pitch, also use the depth of the crease. Stepping right back can turn a good-length ball into one you can cut or pull.
Tips by skill level
Make one decision per ball: fully forward or fully back. Ask a partner to bowl slow spin at you in the nets and say 'forward' or 'back' out loud as you move.
Plan your scoring options for each spinner before you face. Know your safe single, your boundary option and whether you will use your feet, sweep or play from the crease.
Example
Against a leg-spinner on a dry pitch, the batter watches the wrist and picks the googly. She goes right back, waits for it to turn in, then works it off her hip for a single.
Why it matters
Spin beats batters who are indecisive. A clear plan for footwork and scoring turns a spell of spin from a threat into a chance to score.
Common mistakes
- Getting stuck halfway between forward and back, which brings bat-pad catches and LBW into play
- Pushing hard at the ball with the bat out in front of the pad, so edges carry to close catchers
- Hitting against the turn, such as driving an off-break through the off side before you are set
- Watching only the ball in the air instead of the bowler's hand and wrist at release
Frequently asked questions
How do I play spin bowling?
Watch the bowler's hand to read the spin and pick up the length early. Then commit: go fully forward to smother the turn or fully back to play it late. Keep your bat in front of the pad, play with soft hands, and score by working the ball with the turn.
How do I play leg spin as a right-hander?
A leg-break turns away from you towards the slips. Play straight or with the turn through the off side. Watch the wrist for the googly, which turns back in. Getting right forward to smother the spin, or right back to play it late, cuts out most edges.
Should I use my feet against spin bowling?
Using your feet lets you reach the pitch of the ball and turn a good length into a half-volley. Go early and all the way, and keep your head still. If you are beaten while out of your ground, you can be stumped. Pick the right ball and stay balanced.
Related terms
- Off-SpinOff-spin is finger-spin bowling that turns the ball from off to leg, toward a right-handed batter. It uses the fingers, not the wrist, and its stock delivery is the off-break.
- Leg-SpinLeg-spin is spin bowling where a right-arm bowler spins the ball from leg to off: away from a right-handed batter, or left to right as that batter sees it. The bowler's wrist rotation provides the spin.
- GooglyA googly is a leg-spinner's wrist-spin delivery that turns the opposite way to the stock ball, toward a right-hander. An identical action disguises it.
- Sweep ShotThe sweep is a cross-bat shot played on one knee to a good-length ball, usually from a spinner. It sweeps the ball around to the leg side to counter turn and length.
- FootworkFootwork in cricket batting is moving the feet into the best position to play each delivery. Moving quickly and correctly to the pitch of the ball is the basis of all good batting.
- Front-Foot DefenceThe front-foot defence is a defensive batting stroke where the batter strides forward and blocks a good-length ball with a straight, angled bat to keep it down and safe.
Cricket analysis is in development
Motion Lab does not analyze this sport yet. Keep exploring the terms in this section.