Learning how to swing and seam a cricket ball will add variety and incision to a bowler's armoury. While weather, pitch, ball conditions and bowler action can influence swing and seam there are certain basic techniques which need to be learned.
Gripping the Ball
Learning the basic grip will get the wrist behind the ball, an advantage for any type of bowler. With the seam vertical, the ball should rest on the third finger and thumb with the middle and index finger placed either side of the seam. To obtain the greatest chance of movement the seam should land as straight as possible on the pitch.
Bowling an Inswinger
The inswinger moves the ball in the air from the off to the leg side. This ball increases the chance of the batsman being bowled or LBW. The later the ball swings the more effective the delivery will be with grip on the seam and direction of the ball vital. The seam should be vertical but angled towards leg slip with the first two fingers close together and thumb underneath. The shiny side of the ball should be furthest from the batsman.
Bowling an Outswinger
The outswinger swings the ball in the air from the leg to the off side. This delivery moves the ball away from the outside edge of the bat and increases the chance of the batsman being caught behind the wicket. The grip of the ball is the same as for the inswinger but for this delivery the seam should be angled toward the slips with the shiny side of the ball nearest the batsman.
Bowling Reverse Swing
Reverse swing comes into play as the ball wears and is the result of air moving at different speeds on either side of the ball. After a few overs with the new ball the bowler decides which side of the ball to shine and which to let roughen as the innings progresses. Air prefers rough surfaces and will therefore initially travel faster around the rough surface, consequently moving left or right in flight depending on how the ball is held.
However when the ball gets very old the air changes its preference. Once the rough side has greatly deteriorated the now roughened shiny side is preferred. Therefore, without changing the seam position, the ball begins to swing the opposite way. It has begun to reverse swing.
Bowling an Off Cutter
An off cutter is basically a fast off break, moving the ball off the pitch from off to leg. The fingers will cause the ball to rotate with the result that it can also prove an excellent slower delivery. The seam should be vertical with the index finger placed along the seam and middle finger about two centimetres away. The thumb should be underneath the ball on the seam. The ball should rest against the third finger.
On release, the index and middle finger work down the side of the ball so that the thumb passes over the top of the ball. This will generate spin and consequently produce an off cutter.
Bowling a Leg Cutter
A leg cutter is a speedy leg break, moving the ball off the pitch from leg to off. On delivery the seam should again be vertical with the middle finger placed on the seam and index finger about two centimetres away. The ball should rest between thumb and third finger.
As the ball is released, the middle and index finger work down the side so that the thumb passes over the top of ball, generating spin and producing a leg cutter.
How to Swing and Seam a Cricket Ball
Swinging and seaming a cricket ball requires practice and game awareness. Aptitude and application are prerequisites but, as with all sporting skills, time spent understanding and implementing theory will be amply rewarded in competitive situations.
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