Arm ball
Let’s take a closer look at the arm ball — a type of delivery used primarily by off-spin and left-arm orthodox bowlers. This movement is very similar to spinning a spinner with your finger or wrist, but with a unique twist.
Arm Ball: The Basic Meaning
The arm ball is typically delivered with minimal spin and flies faster through the air than a standard spinning delivery.
Bowlers can manipulate the ball’s rotation giving it reverse or vertical spin by adjusting their grip and release. One key to generating vertical spin is keeping the seam upright during delivery. For the batsman, this makes it difficult to read the bowler’s intent, leading to misjudged shots and potential dismissals.
At one time, the technique was a feature of left-arm orthodox bowlers. Due to the non-standard movement, players in the batsman position had little time to prepare responses.
Masters of the Arm Ball
This technique is most often seen in the arsenal of experienced bowlers. Notable practitioners include off-spinners like Graeme Swann, Shakib Al Hasan, Axar Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Imad Wasim, and Ravindra Jadeja. They often unleash the arm ball in crucial match moments, particularly against less experienced batsmen.
Among left-arm orthodox bowlers, one of the earliest and most skilled users of the this movement was England’s Hedley Verity. Representing Yorkshire and England from 1930 to 1939, Verity excelled on challenging pitches, especially those affected by rain. His career and life were cut short by World War II. He joined the Green Howards regiment in 1939 and tragically died in 1943 during the Allied invasion of Sicily.
Modern bowlers like Ravindra Jadeja are considered successors to Verity’s legacy. Jadeja’s arm ball is especially effective on dry, narrow pitches with little turn.
Also among the best left-arm orthodox bowlers are Daniel Vettori and Derek Underwood. Performing this technique, the players used a wave of their hands for additional help. Experienced cricket fans may recall how Vettori, a New Zealander, played cunningly against Darren Maddy in his national team’s match with England in 1999. Twice Maddy managed to react to the ball after it hit his off-stump.
