Cricket is a battle of skill between batters who strike the ball across the near circular filed to score runs, and the bowlers who deliver that ball with varying movements and speeds across the 22-yard pitch. Depending on the length of the innings, the weather conditions, and the pitch status, pace and spin bowlers are deployed by the fielding side captain to reap the benefits from the ball.
While spin bowlers use their fingers or wrist to impart movement on the ball, pace bowlers rely on how the seam makes contact with the pitch and the mid-air movement of the ball. Moreover, the manner and height in which the ball is released from the wrist plays an important role in the ball’s movement.
In the initial overs of the match, the new ball has a shine on both sides of the seam. Through pace bowling, the ball starts to roughen up. The bowling side tries to maintain shine or keep the surface of on one half of the ball smooth. This is done by rubbing that side of the ball on the trousers after moistening it.
When the bowler bowls, the ball swings in the direction opposite to that of the shining side. If the ball’s shine is on the right, then the ball will swing away from the right-handed batter. This is an out swing. If the ball’s shine is on the left, then the ball swings towards the right-handed batter. This is an inswing.
Once the ball gets roughened from both sides and that the ball’s swinging is significantly reduced, the captain gives the following overs to the spinners. The roughened surface, the movement of the fingers or wrist, and the pitch’s wear add to the spinning motion of the ball.
A very bowlers master the art of swinging the ball when both it’s surfaces are rough. The swing imparted with a rough ball is called a reverse swing. This is because the ball swings in the direction of the shining side. Such a swing occurs because of the development of a boundary layer on the ball on the rough surface of the ball. The more shining side which is exposed to the air, received a greater sir coverage, making it swing in the direction of the shine.
A successful reverse swing is also achieved when the ball is released later than a bowler’s usual release point. This also makes it a disadvantage of the tactic, where a smart batter would identify the late release and predict the incoming ball as a one swinging reverse.
For a ball to swing reverse, there must be enough wear and tear on the ball for it to swing on the side of shine. Players have been suspended or fined for roughening the ball through illegal means. An ideal time period for the reverse swing in limited overs cricket is when the innings crosses the 35 over mark. Whenever a new ball is taken, it takes between 12-20 overs for the ball to visibly roughen up and make it a candidate of reverse swing. Wasim Akram is considered to be one of the best bowlers to execute the reverse swing.
