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Types of Fast Bowling Deliveries in Cricket and their brief explanations

In this article, we take a look at the types of fast bowling deliveries in cricket and their brief explanations. We have listed down the total 10 types of fast bowling deliveries.

AC
Last updated: 06.08.2022
Types of Fast Bowling Deliveries in Cricket and their brief explanations

In this article, we take a look at the types of fast bowling deliveries in cricket and their brief explanations. We have listed down the total 10 types of fast bowling deliveries.


Pace

Pace bowlers rely almost exclusively on their speed in order to unsettle a batsman and take wickets. The fastest bowlers in the game can exceed 90 miles per hour in their delivery and that can be enough to challenge the best batters in cricket.

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The potential issue with pace is that there is less movement in the air and off the pitch. While a lower order batsman and those players who are out of form may struggle, world class batsmen will experience fewer problems against pace. That’s why many quicker bowlers will look to apply additional delivery techniques, such as seam or swing bowling.


Bouncer



A bouncer is a short-pitched delivery which is aimed at the batsman’s upper body. It can induce a false shot or it may unsettle the batter if it hits them.

 

Slower Ball



This is a generic term used to describe all types of slow delivery. A slower ball should be disguised so that the batsman is fooled into thinking that it’s arriving at normal speed.

 

Leg Cutter



A leg cutter is bowled using a leg spinner’s grip. The intention is to move the ball from leg to off for a right-handed batsman while the extra pace is an added weapon.


Off Cutter



The off cutter is the quicker bowler’s version of a stock off spinner’s delivery. It should move from off to leg with some added pace.

 

Yorker



A yorker ball is a delivery that is intended to pitch very full, almost under the batsman’s bat. If executed correctly and at pace, the yorker can be exceptionally difficult to play.

 

Knuckleball



The knuckleball is a specific slow delivery. The bowler holds the ball between the knuckles rather than deep inside the fingers. The ball seems to emerge at the same speed but it will move more slowly in the air to deceive the batsman.


Seam Bowling



The seam of a cricket ball holds the structure together but it can also be a useful weapon in a quick bowler’s armory. When the ball is delivered, it can move off the pitch at an unusual angle if that ball hits the seam when it lands.

This means that the batsman has less time to react because the ball moves off the pitch and not in the air. Seam bowling can, therefore, be a very effective tool when it’s used correctly.


Swing Bowling



Swing bowlers use techniques that make the ball move in the air after it’s been delivered. Inswing can allow the ball to move into the batsman’s stumps while outswing takes it away from the batsman and towards the slip cordon.

Reverse Swing

Reverse swing sees the ball move in a completely different direction to that of conventional swing. This usually happens when the ball gets older and one side has deteriorated significantly.

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