How to Bowl a Reverse Swing

Cricket is a game with a rabid following around the world. Several countries, such as Barbados, India and Pakistan, consider the game their national pastime. The game, somewhat similar to baseball, is played with eleven players per side and features a bowler, or chucker, who bowls the ball toward a wicket where a batter is standing. Hits by the batter allow the batting team to score runs. One of the throws a bowler makes in cricket is a reverse swing, which causes the ball to take a different trajectory than a normal swing, or throw.

Instructions

    • 1

      Select an older ball, one at least 30 or 40 overs old, as opposed to a new ball; an older ball will have scuff marks that make it easier to bowl a reverse swing.

    • 2

      Place your index finger and middle finger over the shiny side of the ball; for a left-handed batter, place your index finger over the raised seam of the ball; for a right-handed batter, place your middle finger over the raised seam.

    • 3

      Hold the ball so the shiny side is at a 30-degree angle downward toward the side the batter is standing.

    • 4

      Bowl the ball toward the batter with your hand angled at 50 degrees and as far away from your head as you can reach.

    • 5

      Release the ball and have your follow-through take your hand all the way to the other side of your body at waist height.