Playing Swing and Seam Bowling
Also known as: playing swing bowling, batting against swing, facing swing bowling, playing seam bowling, playing the moving ball, batting against the moving ball, batting against seam
To play swing and seam bowling, know where your off stump is and leave balls you do not need to play. Watch the seam and shine in the bowler's hand, then play late under your eyes with a straight bat and soft hands. Let the ball come to you instead of reaching for it.
Swing is movement through the air. Seam is movement off the pitch after the ball lands on its seam. Both punish batters who commit to a line too early. Watch the bowler's hand at release. The angle of the seam and the side the shine is on give clues to which way the ball may move. A scrambled or wobbling seam usually means the bowler is looking for movement off the pitch rather than swing.
The core skills are the same for both. Know your off stump and leave anything outside it that you do not need to play. Play the ball late, under the eyes, rather than pushing out in front of the body. Play with a straight bat towards mid-off and mid-on. Soft hands make an edge less likely to carry to the slips. Against inswing, keep the bat ahead of the pad to protect against LBW. Against outswing, avoid chasing the ball as it moves away.
Many batters also change where they stand. Standing a little outside the crease meets the ball before it has swung as far. Standing deeper gives a moment longer to watch seam movement. The new ball usually moves the most. Batters often bat for time early and score more freely once the shine has gone.
Tips by skill level
Spend net sessions practising the leave. Ask a partner to bowl a mix of balls on and outside off stump, and play only at those that would hit the stumps.
Use your crease position as a weapon. Batting out of your crease against a swing bowler can cut the swing and upset their length. Check where the keeper is standing before you move.
Example
Early on a green pitch, the opener leaves three outswingers outside off stump. When the bowler straightens one at the stumps, she plays it late and straight back past the bowler.
Why it matters
Swing and seam bring the edge and the LBW into play. Batters who leave well and play late survive the new ball and score once it stops moving.
Common mistakes
- Playing at balls outside off stump that could be left, which brings the slips into the game
- Pushing hard at the ball in front of the body instead of letting it come under the eyes
- Planting the front foot across early, then playing around it when the ball swings back in
- Trying to hit through the line of a moving ball before you have seen how much it is moving
Frequently asked questions
How do I play swing bowling?
Know your off stump and leave balls you do not need to play. Watch the hand for the seam angle and shine, then play late under your eyes with a straight bat and soft hands. Against inswing, keep the bat ahead of the pad.
How do I play seam bowling on a green pitch?
Play late and straight, and let the ball come to you. Seam movement happens off the pitch. Watching the ball all the way onto the bat matters. Be patient early and score once the ball softens.
Should I bat outside my crease against swing?
Some batters do. Standing a little outside the crease lets you meet the ball before it has swung as far, and it can upset the bowler's length. The keeper may then stand up to the stumps to push you back.
Related terms
- Swing BowlingSwing bowling makes a fast-bowled ball curve sideways in the air, toward the batter (inswing) or away (outswing). The angled seam, helped by keeping one side shiny, makes the air flow differently over the two sides of the ball.
- In-SwingIn-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.
- 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.
- 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. This causes it to deviate unpredictably off the pitch.
- JudgmentJudgment in cricket batting is the ability to quickly decide which deliveries to play and which to leave, choosing the right shot for each ball bowled.
- New BallThe new ball is a freshly manufactured cricket ball at the start of an innings (or available after a set number of overs). This swings and seams most readily due to its hard, lacquered surface and prominent seam.
Cricket analysis is in development
Motion Lab does not analyze this sport yet. Keep exploring the terms in this section.