Playing with spin
Download and take away: Playing with spin
One of the great fascinations of cricket is that of being able to spin or ‘tweak’ the ball. The art of spin bowling is about learning to spin the ball hard. This achieves loop through the air and zip as the ball grips the pitch and quickly changes direction. The first steps in making the most of the spinner’s art are the grip and the use of the wrist and/or fingers to impart spin.
The incredible thing about spin is that it can be applied in any direction.
|
Direction
|
Type of spin
|
Type of delivery
|
| Sideways |
Sidespin |
Clockwise - offspin, Anticlockwise - legspin
|
| Backwards |
Underspin |
Backspin |
| Forwards |
Overspin |
Topspin |
Apart from using a ball to demonstrate these types of spin, a table tennis bat and ball are also useful to show the direction and type of spin and the effects of the spin imparted on the ball as it moves through the air. Have fun spinning a ball!
What do you need?
1 MILO Kiwi Cricket ball or an incrediball, 1 stump, chalk per pair
How do you play?
Activity 1: Experimenting with spin
1. Two players to face each other in a kneeling position about 3-5 metres apart
2. Each player to grip the ball by spreading the fingers across the seam of the ball and to take turns to throw the ball underarm to his/her partner to try and spin it sidewards, backwards and forwards
3. Once they are able to get the ball to spin place a stump long ways between them to act as a line. Then take turns to spin the ball - first clockwise, then anticlockwise - to try and get it to bounce on one side of the stump and then spin across it. This activity can also be done by one player using a wall to rebound the ball against
Activity 2: Spinning the ball
OFF SPIN GRIP - the ball is held firmly between the first two fingers which are spread widely across the seam and it rests lightly on the thumb and third finger
LEG SPIN GRIP - the ball is held firmly in the first two fingers which are spread widely across the seam and the third finger which is bent and along the seam and it rests lightly on the thumb
Two players to face each other in a kneeling position 5-8 metres apart
Each player to hold the ball correctly with either an off spin grip and to take turns to spin the ball clockwise to each other, or a leg spin grip and to take turns to spin the ball anticlockwise to each other
Begin by UNDERARM SPINNING. Watch carefully how the wrist and fingers twist to spin the ball. See who can spin the ball hardest
Place a stump long ways between the players to act as a line. Take turns to spin the ball - either clockwise or anticlockwise - to try and get it to bounce on one side of the stump and then spin across it
Next try SIDE OR SHORT-ARM SPINNING where the bowling hand is held at shoulder height with the elbow and wrist almost fully bent. The elbow remains bent as the forearm is brought over and the wrist rotates the ball. Again watch how the ball is released
Finally try OVERARM SPINNING. Attempt to spin some with the eyes closed to feel how the wrist and fingers work to spin the ball
Once the players have mastered each of these activities kneeling, increase the distance between them and repeat the activities standing side-on
Note: Both grips and finger actions are as seen by the batter for a right hand spin bowler
'The ball will twist if you flick your wrist!'