How to Reverse Swing a Cricket Ball

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

Rate: (2 Ratings)

In the game of cricket, once a ball gets older and worn out, it will get heavier on one side than the other due to wear and tear from hitting the ball. This imbalance of weight will cause the ball to turn in the opposite direction that it typically would on a swing in the air, throwing off the batsman.

Flag Article

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

Worn cricket ball

Step1

Locate a cricket ball that has one dull side and one shiny side in order to make this swing work correctly.

Step2

Hold the cricket ball with your fingers at the seam of the ball. Keep the shiny side on the right if you want the ball to move away from a right-handed baseman and the shiny side on the left if you want to move the ball in. Keep the seam as vertical and straight as you can.

Step3

Bend the wrist while holding the cricket ball downward so that the part of the ball that is closest to your body is positioned facing approximately 30 degrees downward.

Step4

Keep your head and hand at the shoulder at approximately a 50 to 60 degree angle. Your bowling hand should remain angled as you bowl and keep your hand as far away from your head as you can.

Step5

Pitch the ball up high and as fast as you can. The ball needs to be thrown at 80 miles an hour or so to make this swing work.

Step6

Follow through with the ball. Make sure that the ball goes between your body and the stumps (the vertical posts) when you follow through on this swing.

Tips & Warnings

While playing the game, try to wear your ball on one side more than the other and keep the shiny side as shiny as possible to create a ball that will work with this swing. Shine the ball on your leg on the shiny side of the ball as you play.
Test the ball to see if you can use it for a reverse swing by throwing it straight. If it swings a bit toward the shiny side of the ball than you can use it for this swing.
Practice this swing until you can get it right before using it in the game.
Let the ball wear naturally. Don't tamper with the ball with knives and other things to speed the process. Ball tampering is illegal in the game and could get you banned.