Wrist Spin Development

WRIST-SPIN DELIVERY TYPES
A wrist-spinner can use several delivery types, including the leg-break, top-spinner, wrong'un, and flipper or backspinner.

PHASES OF WRIST-SPIN BOWLING ACTION
There are four distinct phases of the wrist-spin bowler's action
APPROACH- The approach should be short and efficient, just long enough to provide balance and build rhythm and momentum that can be transferred to the ball at delivery.
GATHER- The gather is the all-important transition from the run-up to the delivery, as the bowler springs or leaps off the front foot to swivel in the air and land on the back foot immediately prior to delivery.
DELIVERY STRIDE AND RELEASE- The delivery stride is longer for most wrist-spinners than finger-spinners. This is the time when the rhythm and momentum developed during the run-up is transferred and applied to the ball on release. This transfer is maximized by the rhythmical pivot on the front leg.
FOLLOW THROUGH- The follow through occurs as the back leg continues forward and across the body after release. After the back foot lands following the release of the ball, the bowler may take another step or two or may spring to the 'ready position' to the field or catch after the batsman plays a shot. At this stage, the bowler becomes a key player in the fielding team, particularly in relation to strokes in the direction of the bowler or for returns from the field if there is the chance of a run-out at the non-striker's end.

PRACTICAL PRINCIPLE OF WRIST-SPIN BOWLING

• Develop a feel for the ball, with the dynamic double-hinge action that comes from finger strength and the wrist-snap producing spin and 'fizz' to make the delivery lively and venomous
• Spin the ball hard, to achieve flight, rift, drop and sharp turn
• Understand that spin and flight(drift, drop and hang0 are dependent upon the direction and amount of spin imparted and the body action.
• Develop a strong spinning leg-break as a stock ball
• Develop a big spinning leg-break with maximum revolutions
• Develop variations of spin, pace, flight/drift, and trajectory
• Practice bowling at targets to refine accuracy with all deliveries, while also maintaining the capacity to spin the ball sharply
• Develop their own points of difference

VARIATION

STOCK DELIVERIES

A spinner's stock delivery serves as the foundation for adding subtle variations of flight and pace. A stock leg-spin delivery should be strong-spinning leg-break that can be bowled with confidence in various situations. A stock finger-spin delivery should be a strong-spinning off-break that can provide the basis upon which variations of spin and flight can be developed and perfected.

BOWLING TO INTENDED TARGET

A spinner must be able to exert pressure on the batsman and the batting team by bowling as accurately as possible, thereby minimizing the number of loose deliveries and making the batsman play at the ball. The constant aim is to pitch the ball where the batsman will be uncomfortable and will be undecided as to whether to defend or attack.

WRIST-SPIN WITH FLIGHT AND PACE VARIATIONS

Wrist-spin should be bowled with variations of flight and pace to create different trajectory, spin, and bounce. Wrist-can is bowled with different blends of spin, flight, and pace to create different flights paths, in terms of drift and drop, and then different amount of turn and bounce.

ATTACKING AND DEFENSIVE FIELDS FOR FINGER-SPIN

Attacking fields for finger-spin bowling will have more fielders in catching positions and saving singles in the infield ring, in order to put more pressure on the batsman. As with wrist-spinning, the bowler should resist the temptation to reduce the spin of the ball and therefore the wicket-taking potential simply to increase accuracy. If the bowler is using a line outside off stump, the batsman is encouraged to play against the spin and into the off side, to a 5/4 or 6/3 balance.

The defensive field setting for finger-spin also depends on the bowling line. If bowling an outside off-stump line, the usual defensive field will have a 5/4 balance (or a 6/3 balance for more accurate bowlers).