How to Inswing a Cricket Ball

The "inswinging" bowl in the sport of cricket is a useful delivery for a bowler to use in his over. The ball pitches outside the line of the stumps but cuts back and swings into the batsman. The inswinger will cause the batsman problems if he does not follow the flight of the ball. A pace bowl with inswing is very difficult to bat against and will be more effective the later it swings. Grip, weather conditions and the shine on the ball will help with an inswing.

Things You'll Need

  • Cricket ball
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Instructions

    • 1

      Shine the ball on one side before bowling. Rubbing one side of the ball down the trousers leg will produce a shine that will help the ball swing in the air. Repeated shining of the ball between deliveries will improve the inswing.

    • 2

      Grip the ball with the index and middle fingers close together on the seam of the ball. Ensure the seam is in a vertical position and hold the seam underneath with the thumb.

    • 3

      Angle the seam towards the batsman's leg side but keep it vertical. Make sure the shiny side of the ball is facing away from the batsman.

    • 4

      Pitch the ball so that it bounces before reaching the batsman. The flight of the ball should change if the delivery was executed correctly.

    • 5

      Practice this method until you have mastered the inswinging delivery.