Leg Spin or Off Spin? Orthodox or Unorthodox?—An In-Depth Examination of Bowling–Batting Match-Ups and the Effectiveness of Spin Variations in International and Franchise T20 Cricket

Kerruish, S, McRobert, A ORCID: 0000-0002-0964-7199 and Jamil, M ORCID: 0000-0001-6117-0546 (2025) Leg Spin or Off Spin? Orthodox or Unorthodox?—An In-Depth Examination of Bowling–Batting Match-Ups and the Effectiveness of Spin Variations in International and Franchise T20 Cricket. European Journal of Sport Science, 25 (5). ISSN 1746-1391

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Abstract

In this study, 23,084 balls bowled by elite level spin bowlers across six competitions were analysed in order to fulfil two main aims; (1) investigate whether the type of spin bowler presents any tactical advantages and (2) investigate the most effective type of spin bowling variation. The results of logistic regression analyses revealed significant relationships between specific bowler–batter match-ups and runs conceded (p < 0.001). Specifically, opposing match-ups where the ball naturally spins away from right-handed and left-handed batters were revealed to be a particularly effective strategy at restricting runs conceded. Right-handed leg-spin bowlers are revealed to be significantly more likely to take the wickets of right-handed batters. Results also revealed that the ‘googly’ and ‘carrom ball’ variations are particularly effective at both, restricting runs scored and taking wickets when they are bowled to right-handed batters (both p < 0.001). Evidence suggests that certain bowler–batter match-ups present some tactical advantages and should therefore be taken into consideration in T20 cricket. Furthermore, the results also highlight the value of a wrist spinner capable of bowling ‘googly’ or ‘carrom ball’ variations. The findings of this study could potentially influence team selection, strategies, recruitment policy and general coaching practice.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Leg; Humans; Competitive Behavior; Sports Equipment; Functional Laterality; Athletic Performance; Cricket Sport; googly; key performance indicators; match analysis; performance analysis; spin bowling; Humans; Cricket Sport; Athletic Performance; Sports Equipment; Functional Laterality; Competitive Behavior; Leg; 42 Health Sciences; 4207 Sports Science and Exercise; Humans; Cricket Sport; Athletic Performance; Sports Equipment; Functional Laterality; Competitive Behavior; Leg; 0913 Mechanical Engineering; 1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences; Sport Sciences; 4207 Sports science and exercise; 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	Wiley
Date of acceptance:	28 March 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	1 September 2025
Date Deposited:	01 Sep 2025 11:02
Last Modified:	01 Sep 2025 11:15
DOI or ID number:	10.1002/ejsc.12296
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27042

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