Left-arm spin bowling is a cricket term. In cricket, "bowling" means delivering the ball to the batter with a straight arm, and spin bowlers make the ball turn sideways after it bounces. There are two kinds of left-arm spinner, and they turn the ball in opposite directions.
Left-arm orthodox (finger spin)
The more common type. The bowler spins the ball with the fingers, rolling them over the top of the ball at release.
- Which way it turns: to a right-handed batter, the stock ball turns away from them, from leg side to off side.
- Main variation: the arm ball, which doesn't turn and drifts in with the arm.
- Strengths: accuracy and control, especially on dry, turning pitches.
Left-arm wrist spin
Rarer and harder to master. The ball is spun mainly with the wrist, like a leg-spinner but from the left hand. It has traditionally been called "chinaman" bowling, though many commentators now simply say left-arm wrist spin.
- Which way it turns: to a right-handed batter, the stock ball turns into them, from off side to leg side.
- Main variation: the googly (or wrong'un), which turns the other way.
- Strengths: more spin and more variety, at the cost of control.
Basic technique for orthodox spin
- Grip: the top joints of the index and middle fingers across the seam, spread comfortably.
- Approach: a short, rhythmic run-up. Spin is about rhythm, not pace.
- Action: side-on at delivery, with the front arm pulling down and the bowling arm coming over straight.
- Release: rip the fingers over the ball, aiming for the seam to spin toward slip.
- Follow-through: let the bowling arm finish across the body.
Flight (tossing the ball up), drift in the air and changes of pace matter as much as the amount of spin.
Cricket bowling vs ten-pin bowling
If you were looking for spin in ten-pin bowling, that's a different skill: rotating the ball so it hooks into the pocket. See how to spin a bowling ball and the types of cricket bowling for the full list of cricket styles.