Cricketing Deliveries (Bowling) Quiz

Answer: Yorker

The Yorker is a fast delivery bowled full length, which pitches on or very close to the popping crease (near to the batsman's bat). If it hits the toe, it can be very painful, as many a batsman who faced the yorkers bowled by Wasim Akram discovered. If the batsman misses a yorker, he is usually bowled.

Answer: Chinaman

The chinaman is a delivery bowled by a left hand leg spinner. The chinaman turns from off stump to leg stump and is bowled by a sharp action of the wrist. This delivery reportedly was first bowled by a Trinidadian bowler called Ellis Achong, who was of Chinese descent (that's why the name!). Some famous chinaman bowlers in cricket include Sir Garfield Sobers, Brad Hogg and Paul Adams.

Answer: Doosra

The doosra is a delivery from an off-spinner that pitches on the off-stump and turns towards off instead of coming back in. The word 'doosra' is derived from Hindi and it means 'second' or the other one, referring to a delivery different from the off-break. The doosra was an innovation by Saqlain Mushtaq of Pakistan. Muttiah Muralidharan made this delivery famous.

Answer: Bouncer

The bouncer is a fast delivery pitched short and which rears up at chest or head height putting the batsman in trouble. He has to either play it, that too at an awkward height that could get him out; or the ball hits him or he has to duck to avoid the delivery.

The bouncer has been used from time immemorial by fast bowlers to terrorize batsman. The bouncer can seriously hurt batsman (Former Indian opener Raman Lamba was killed when he was hit on the head by a bouncer in a local league match!); So the laws were amended to allow only 2 bouncers per over in test cricket and 1 per over in one day matches.

A delivery that contravenes this law is called a no ball.

Answer: Googly

The googly is bowled by a leg spinner from the back of his hand. The delivery seems to be spinning away from the batsman, but it spins back in quickly and if the batsman is not watchful, he can be out. This delivery was reportedly invented by an Australian spinner Bernard Bosanquet, after whom it was initially called the Bosie. Top leg spinners in history like Richie Benaud, Chandrashekar, Abdul Qadir, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble and Mushtaq Ahmed have used this delivery effectively to take many wickets.

Answer: Beamer

The beamer is a fast-full pitched delivery. This delivery is a full toss which is usually aimed at the chest or above. Since these deliveries don't pitch (bounce off the pitch), they are extremely difficult to play and also dangerous. Therefore, beamers (any fast full toss above waist height) are not allowed in cricket. If a bowler bowls this type of a delivery, it is called a no ball.

A bowler who bowls two beamers will be suspended for bowling for the rest of the innings( or match, as applicable).

Answer: Flipper

The flipper is a special delivery bowled by a leg spinner. It is squeezed out of the front of the hand using the thumb and the first and second finger. The ball seems to be coming like a regular leg spinner, but the use of the thumb and finger, results in the ball coming out underneath the hand.

This makes the ball come very fast and low and if the batsman goes on the back foot, he can be bowled or out leg before. Aussie leg spinner Charlie Grimmett is credited as having invented this delivery. Shane Warne was known for his expertise in bowling the flipper.

Answer: In swinger

The in swinger is an important weapon for a seam bowler. This delivery is held with the seam of the ball in a vertical position and the first two fingers pointed towards the leg stump. When it bounces off the pitch the delivery swings or seams back into the batsman. This is the in swinger; an out swinger is a delivery that on pitching seams away from the batsman.

Answer: A ball that pitches just in front of the bat

A half-volley is a delivery that pitches just in front of the batsman's bat and just short of the block-hole position. Such a delivery would be easy for the batsman to hit and would be a gift to a good batsman. A batsman can very easily drive or flick such deliveries.

Answer: Making an old ball swing

Reverse swing is the art of swinging the old ball. A new ball swings generally for 10-20 overs. A ball that is old is difficult to swing irrespective of how much it is polished. Sarfraz Nawaz of Pakistan was the first to discover the technique of reverse swing.

In reverse swing, a ball that is gripped and delivered like an out swinger will on pitching come back in like an in swinger and vice-versa. This happens very late creating problems for the batsman. A requirement for reverse swing is that the ball should be bowled at a speed of around 80 miles per hour and one side needs to have become rough. Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis of Pakistan have been experts in the art of reverse swing.