I might be a bit biased, but leg spin can be very difficult to bowl.
For me and for the batsman to face, because you have to deceive them in flight and with accuracy.
If you do this well, you hopefully can confuse the batsman into playing a false shot.
The stock leggy's delivery will pitch in an area where the batsman will be forced to commit
himself to a shot before spinning sharply towards slips, something someone forgot to explain to Mike
Gatting. He's done it. He started off with the most beautiful delivery.
The grip I use and the grip that we tell anyone starting bowling leg spin is to have two fingers
down, two fingers up. We put the ball in there, nice comfortable grip and deliver the ball like so.
If you spin the ball hard, the ball will drift towards the right hander's leg stump
and then spin sharply towards slips. Length is all important here. If you pitch too far up,
the batsman can come forward and nullify the spin. And if you're too short, it can be easy pickings
waiting to be smashed. Once again, the two most important things, the grip, two fingers down,
two fingers up and spin the ball as hard as you can at practice and in a game.
If I'm turning the ball a long way and the batsman's starting to pick me,
it is time for some variation. One of the good variations is the top spinner.
This ball will go straight on and kick up at him.
Whereas a normal delivery will turn appreciably towards slips, the top spinner will hold its line
somewhat and bounce a little more, endangering the shoulder of the bat or batsman's glove.
I have fond memories of this delivery. Once again, the grip, two fingers down,
two fingers up, the ball sits in there nice and comfortably. And instead of going sideways for
the leg spinner, we go straight over the top for the top spinner. This action imparts overspin on
the ball, which means when it hits the wicket, it'll bounce and kick up at the batsman.
Convincing the batsman that they are getting your standard ball is the key here, so that they will
get themselves into the wrong position. With a bit more pace on it, the batsman has less time to
alter his shot. Once again, the grip, two fingers down, two fingers up, ball sits in there, spin the
ball as hard as you can and straight over the top. The wrong one is the ball that batsmen expect
sooner or later, but I like to deliver it when they least expect it. Unlike a normal leg spin
delivery, the wrong one will turn in the opposite direction towards the leg side. Delivered correctly,
it can completely deceive the batsman. The wrong one has gone between the bat and the pad off the
inside edge and has just rolled back past the leg stump. The normal leg spinner's grip, two fingers
down, two fingers up, ball sits there nice and comfortable and unlike the leg spinner, the wrong
one comes out the back of the hand. Delivered with this action, it will look like it's going to spin
towards the slips, but the wrong one will turn towards the right hander's legs. This ball is an
absolute special for getting a bat pad catch, but only if it is accurate enough to make the batsman
play a shot. Once again, the grip, two fingers down, two fingers up, ball sits there nice and
comfortable, spin the ball as hard as you can and don't be put off if you don't land them straight
away because the wrong one is a very hard ball to bowl. I'm still practicing it, so hopefully you'll
get it right and so will I. One of my favourite leg spin deliveries is the flipper. I've had plenty
success with this delivery. I'm willing to let you in on the secret as long as you don't tell the
poms. The flipper is designed to catch the batsman unawares as to how much the ball will bounce.
Often it will shoot through low and quickly, catching them lbw, like a couple I bowled to South Africa's
Darryl Cullen. I think you can guarantee that Shane Warner's out-court him there, show him
the obvious flipper, let him pull it for four and then slip the other one in and it was through him,
it was sure it was candy from kids. Once again the basic leg spinner's grip, two fingers down,
two fingers up, but we've got the thumb on the ball. Why we've got the thumb on the ball is to
squeeze the ball out like so. This puts underspin on the ball which will make the ball shoot through
low and fast. This ball can make a good batsman look foolish depending on how low it stays.
The speed makes it very difficult for them to adjust their shot.
Once again the leg spinner's grip, two fingers down, two fingers up, but we've got the thumb on
the ball, so importantly you must squeeze it out as hard as you can and once again like the wrongin,
it's a very very hard ball to bowl so practice, practice, practice.
Well there you have it guys, all my tips, all my secrets, the ball's in the kit, it's up to you now,
just remember two fingers up, two fingers down, the markings are on the ball and remember you
must practice. So good luck and I'll see you soon.
He's got him again with it.