Key takeaways
- Pace bowlers rely on speed, with swing in the air and seam movement off the pitch; spinners deliver slowly with rapid rotation to make the ball turn after it bounces.
- Wikipedia puts the fastest bowlers above 86 mph (138 km/h) and a typical spin delivery at 70–90 km/h.
- Conventional swing comes with a relatively new ball; spinners are given the old, worn ball and become more effective as the pitch dries and cracks.
- Spinners divide into four types: off spin, leg spin, left-arm orthodox and left-arm unorthodox.
- For all bowlers, the ICC treats elbow extension of more than 15 degrees, between the arm reaching horizontal and release, as an illegal action.
Bowlers come in two broad kinds. One tries to beat the batter with speed and movement through the air or off the seam; the other bowls more slowly and relies on rotation to turn the ball. The contrast between pace and spin affects team selection, field settings and which bowlers suit which stage of a match. This comparison draws on Wikipedia's articles on fast, swing and spin bowling, and the ICC's rules on bowling actions.
The core difference
| Pace bowling | Spin bowling | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | The fastest bowl over 86 mph (138 km/h) | Typically 70–90 km/h (45–55 mph) |
| Main weapon | Speed, swing through the air, seam off the pitch | Rotation: turn off the pitch and drift in the air |
| Best conditions | A relatively new ball for conventional swing; a green, moist pitch | An old, worn ball that grips the pitch; a pitch that has dried and begun to crack |
| Typical role | Strike bowling: short spells at the start of an innings or against new batters | The old ball; in shorter formats, sometimes used to take the pace off the ball |
Wikipedia classifies pace bowlers by speed, with labels such as slow-medium, medium, fast-medium, fast and express, and notes the term "seamer" is used loosely for pace bowlers in general.
How pace bowlers move the ball
- Swing is lateral movement through the air. Wikipedia explains that conventional swing is encouraged by the raised seam and is usually greatest when the ball is new. An outswinger curves away from the batter, an inswinger into them; bowlers vary them by changing how they hold the ball, while the fielding side polishes one side and lets the other roughen.
- Reverse swing moves the ball the opposite way, towards the shiny side.
- Seam bowling relies on the ball landing on its seam and deviating off the pitch rather than in the air.
- Pure pace can be enough on its own: Wikipedia notes results can come from sheer speed and aggression, and gives the inswinging yorker as a delivery that is dangerous even when bowled relatively slowly.
The ball itself matters: cricket ball types explains why the Dukes ball tends to swing more than the Kookaburra.
How spinners move the ball
Wikipedia defines spin bowling as delivering the ball relatively slowly but with rapid rotation, so it can deviate sharply after bouncing. The same rotation can make the ball drift sideways in the air before it lands, through the Magnus effect, so a delivery can change direction twice.
There are four types, by technique and bowling arm:
| Type | Arm | Technique |
|---|---|---|
| Off spin | Right | Finger spin |
| Leg spin | Right | Wrist spin |
| Left-arm orthodox | Left | Finger spin |
| Left-arm unorthodox | Left | Wrist spin |
Wikipedia notes there is virtually no overlap between finger and wrist spin techniques. Spin bowling variations covers the googly, doosra and other deliveries each type uses.
Conditions decide the mix
Wikipedia's pitch article notes that conditions can significantly influence team selection. A green, moist pitch favours the bowler, with the ball moving off the seam and through the air; the spin article says spinners are more effective later in a game, as the pitch dries, cracks and crumbles. How cricket pitches affect play explains the change over a match. Wikipedia's spin article adds a modern twist: spinners opening the bowling used to be rare, but became more viable with Twenty20 cricket when pitch conditions suit them.
Fields follow too. A pace bowler's attacking field is built around slips and gully; a spinner's around a slip, short leg and silly point, as cricket fielding positions shows.
The same legal action for all
Both kinds of bowler must bowl, not throw. Law 21 of the Laws of Cricket says the elbow must not straighten, partially or completely, once the arm reaches shoulder height in the delivery swing. In international cricket, the ICC puts a number on it: an illegal bowling action is elbow extension of more than 15 degrees between the arm reaching horizontal and the ball being released. Match officials report suspect actions by eye, the bowler is tested at an ICC-accredited centre, and anyone found to be throwing is suspended until they modify the action and pass a retest. Every bowler must also land the front foot legally; no ball and wide rules covers that.
In Cricket Sport Career Simulator, one of our sports career games, pace and spin bowling are listed as separate skills, so you can shape a cricketer into either kind of bowler, or an all-rounder.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between pace and spin bowling?
How fast do bowlers bowl?
What is the difference between swing and seam?
What is the 15-degree rule?
Sources
- Fast bowling (opens in a new tab)Wikipedia — accessed
- Spin bowling (opens in a new tab)Wikipedia — accessed
- Swing bowling (opens in a new tab)Wikipedia — accessed
- Cricket pitch (opens in a new tab)Wikipedia — accessed
- Illegal Bowling Actions (opens in a new tab)International Cricket Council — accessed
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