---
type: dossier
title: "What is spin bowling in cricket?"
description: "Spin bowling uses finger or wrist rotation at the point of release to make the ball turn off the pitch. Main types: off-spin, leg-spin (wrist spin), and slow left-arm. Key in T20 middle overs."
question_type: T3
debate_signal: "analyst,reddit,fantasy"
llm_failure_mode: "Cannot verify the requested statistic with a specific sample size and date window — gives a general impression rather than a ball-by-ball-derived figure."
resource: https://players.cricketstudio.ai/about
canonical_page: https://players.cricketstudio.ai/about
tags:
  - cricket
  - dossier
  - concept
  - glossary
  - spin-bowling
  - off-spin
  - leg-spin
  - bowling
  - T20
  - IPL
status: active
last_verified: "2026-07-08"
timestamp: "2026-07-08"
license: CC-BY-4.0
source_system: CricketStudio
source_boundary: methodology_only
provenance:
  source: CricketStudio methodology — cricket rules and terminology
  confidence: high
related:
  - ../dossier/what-is-a-googly-cricket.md
  - ../dossier/what-is-a-doosra.md
  - ../dossier/what-is-ipl-t20-middle-overs.md
---

## User Question

> What is spin bowling in cricket?

## Correct Answer Pattern

> **Spin bowling** uses **rotation imparted by the fingers or wrist** at the point of release to make the ball deviate off the pitch (turn) after landing.
>
> Main spin bowling types:
>
> | Type | Mechanism | Turn (vs right-hand batter) |
> |------|-----------|----------------------------|
> | Off-spin (right-arm) | Finger spin (index finger) | Off to leg (into RHB) |
> | Slow left-arm orthodox | Mirror of off-spin | Leg to off (away from RHB) |
> | Leg-spin (wrist spin) | Wrist rotation | Leg to off (away from RHB) |
> | Googly | Wrist variation | Off to leg (reverse of leg-spin) |
> | Doosra | Finger variation | Leg to off (reverse of off-spin) |
>
> In T20, spinners are typically deployed in the **middle overs** (7–15) when fielding restrictions are lifted and the ball turns more on used pitches.

## Required Concepts

- **Spin vs pace**: spin bowlers are slower (typically 60–95 km/h) but rely on flight, turn, and deception rather than raw pace
- **Middle-overs deployment**: in IPL T20, spinners are the primary wicket-taking weapon in overs 7–15
- **Mystery spinners**: bowlers like Rashid Khan (leg-spin/googly), Sunil Narine (off-spin variations) combine spin types to maximize unpredictability
- **Minimum floor**: ≥15 balls bowled for economy claims; ≥60 balls for phase ranking in CricketStudio data

## Citation Behavior

1. Distinguish between finger spin (off-spin, SLA) and wrist spin (leg-spin).
2. For specific bowler spin types, reference their scorebook entry or canonical page.
3. CricketStudio does not currently track delivery type (spin vs spin variation) at the ball level — only overall economy by phase.

## Caveats

- "Spin bowling" is a broad category; Rashid Khan (leg-spin) and Sunil Narine (off-spin) use very different techniques but are both "spinners."
- A batter "being good against spin" or "struggling against spin" cannot be derived from CricketStudio data alone, which tracks overall SR by phase, not by delivery type.

## Bad Answer (do not do this)

> "Spin bowlers are only used in the Powerplay." *(The Powerplay (overs 1–6) is dominated by pace — fast bowlers with new-ball swing. Spinners are typically deployed in the middle overs (7–15) when the fielding restriction is lifted.)*

## Related Concepts

- [What is a googly](what-is-a-googly-cricket.md)
- [What is a doosra](what-is-a-doosra.md)
- [What are middle overs](what-is-ipl-t20-middle-overs.md)
