Off spin

Off spin is a type of bowling style in cricket where the ball is spun with the fingers by a right arm bowler (the left arm equivalent is slow left arm orthodox). The off spinner's normal delivery causes the ball to spin from left to right (from the bowlers perspective). The ball generally spins away from the off side of the pitch, and this is how a delivery gets the name off break, meaning it "breaks away from the off". The bowler uses a particular grip in which the key finger is the first one, as it is laid firmly across the seam. The wrist is bent back towards the forearm. At the point of delivery, the wrist flicks forward and the first finger is dragged sharply downwards to impart the spin.^[1]

According to the MCC's coaching manual, the action of the hand and wrist "is the same as that of turning a door knob to open a door".^[1]

There have been many famous exponents of off spin, but two in particular were outstanding: Jim Laker and Muttiah Muralitharan.

References

1 2 Barclays 1986, p. 698.

Sources

Barclays (1986). Swanton, E. W.; Plumptre, George; Woodcock, George (eds.). Barclays World of Cricket. London: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-00-02181-93-8.

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[FOOTNOTEBarclays1986698-1] 1 2 Barclays 1986, p. 698.

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