Left-arm orthodox spin or left-arm off spin, also known as slow left-arm orthodox spin bowling, is a type of

spin bowling Spin bowling is a bowling (cricket), bowling technique in cricket, in which the ball is Delivery (cricket), delivered relatively slowly but with rapid rotation, giving it the potential to deviate sharply after bouncing. A bowler who uses this t ...

cricket Cricket is a Bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball game played between two Sports team, teams of eleven players on a cricket field, field, at the centre of which is a cricket pitch, pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two Bail (cr ...

. Bowlers using this technique bowl with their left-arm and a

finger spin Finger spin is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket. It refers to the technique and specific hand movements associated with imparting a particular direction of spin to the cricket ball. The other spinning technique, generally used to spin ...

action. Their normal

delivery Delivery may refer to: Biology and medicine *Childbirth *Drug delivery *Gene delivery Business and law *Delivery (commerce), of goods, e.g.: **Pizza delivery ** Milk delivery ** Food delivery ** Online grocer *Deed ("delivery" in contract law), a ...

spins from right to left (from the bowler's perspective) when it bounces on the pitch. Left-arm orthodox spin bowlers generally attempt to drift the ball in the air into a right-handed batsman, and then turn it away from the batsman (towards off-stump) upon landing on the pitch. The drift and turn in the air are attacking techniques. The normal delivery of a left-arm orthodox spin bowler is the left-arm orthodox spinner. The major variations of a left-arm orthodox spin bowler are the

topspinner A topspinner is a type of delivery bowled by a cricketer bowling either wrist spin or finger spin. In either case, the bowler imparts the ball with top spin by twisting it with their fingers prior to delivery. In both cases, the topspinner is th ...

(which turns less and bounces higher in the cricket pitch), the

arm ball An arm ball is a type of delivery in cricket. It is a variation delivery bowled by an off spin bowler or slow left-arm orthodox bowler. It is the finger spin equivalent of a wrist spinner's ''slider'' or ''zooter''. In contrast to the sto ...

(which does not turn at all and drifts into a right-handed batsman in the direction of the bowler's arm movement; also called a 'floater') and the left-arm spinner's version of a

doosra A doosra is a particular type of delivery (cricket), delivery by an off spin, off-spin bowler (cricket), bowler in cricket. The doosra spins in the opposite direction to an off break (the off-spinner's default delivery), and aims to confuse the ...

(which turns the other way).

Notable slow left-arm orthodox spin bowlers

Players listed below are included as they meet specific criteria which are generally recognized as having achieved significant success in the art of left-arm orthodox spin bowling. For example, leading wicket-takers, and inventors of new deliveries. *

Rangana Herath Herath Mudiyanselage Rangana Keerthi Bandara Herath (; ; born 19 March 1978), known as Rangana Herath is a former Sri Lankan cricketer, who played all forms of cricket game and a former Test cricket captain for Sri Lanka. Considered as one of the ...

– 433 Test wickets (highest by a left-arm spinner in all men's Tests) 74 ODI Wickets and 18 T20I Wickets *

Sanath Jayasuriya Deshabandu Sanath Teran Jayasuriya (, ; born 30 June 1969), is a former Sri Lankan cricketer, captain, cricket administrator and coach. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest all rounders ever to play in ODI cricket. A left arm orthodox sp ...

– 98 Test wickets , 323 ODI wickets (highest by a left-arm spinner in all men's ODIs) *

Daniel Vettori Daniel Luca Vettori (born 27 January 1979) is a New Zealand cricket coach and former cricketer who played for the New Zealand national cricket team. He was the 200th player to win their Test cricket cap for New Zealand and an inductee in the Ne ...

– 362 Test wickets and 305 ODI wickets *

Derek Underwood Derek Leslie Underwood (8 June 1945 – 15 April 2024) was an English international cricketer. In retirement he became president of the Marylebone Cricket Club The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is a cricket club founded in 1787 and based s ...

– 297 Test wickets *

Ravindra Jadeja Ravindrasinh Anirudhsinh Jadeja (born 6 December 1988) is an Indian cricketer who represents the national team currently in ODI and Test formats. He is an all-rounder, who bats left-handed and bowls left-arm orthodox spin. Widely hailed as one ...

– 309 Test wickets and 220 ODI wickets *

Bishan Singh Bedi Bishan Singh Bedi (25 September 1946 – 23 October 2023) was an Indian cricketer who was primarily a slow left-arm orthodox bowler. He played Test cricket for India from 1966 to 1979 and formed part of the famous Indian spin quartet. He play ...

– 266 Test wickets *

Shakib Al Hasan Shakib Al Hasan (; born 24 March 1987) is a former Bangladeshi international cricketer who played Test cricket, Test, One Day International, ODI and Twenty20 International, T20I cricket for the Bangladesh national cricket team, Bangladeshi cr ...

– 246 Test wickets, 317 ODI wickets and 140 T20I wickets (the 2nd highest in men's T20Is) and 317 ODI wickets *

Ravi Shastri Ravishankar Jayadritha Shastri (born 27 May 1962) is an Indian cricket commentator, former professional cricketer and head coach of the India national cricket team. As a player, he played for the India national cricket team between 1981 and 199 ...

– 151 Test wickets *

Keshav Maharaj Keshav Athmanand Maharaj (born 7 February 1990) is a South African professional cricketer. Maharaj represents the South Africa national team in Tests, ODI and T20I cricket. He is currently the vice-captain of the side in limited overs cricket. ...

– 177 Test wickets *

Ashley Giles Ashley Fraser Giles (born 19 March 1973) is a former English first-class cricketer, who played 54 Test matches and 62 One Day Internationals for England before being forced to retire due to a recurring hip injury. Giles played the entirety of ...

– 143 Test wickets *

Taijul Islam Taijul Islam (Bengali: তাইজুল ইসলাম; born 7 February 1992) is a Bangladeshi left-arm orthodox spinner who plays for the Bangladesh national cricket team. He made his international debut for Bangladesh in September 2014. Tai ...

– 204 Test wickets *

Jess Jonassen Jessica Louise Jonassen (born 5 November 1992) is an Australian cricketer from Rockhampton, Rockhampton, Queensland. A left-arm orthodox Bowler (cricket), bowler, Jonassen has been a member of the Australia women's national cricket team, nationa ...

– 141 ODI wickets and 96 T20I wickets *

Sophie Ecclestone Sophie Ecclestone (born 6 May 1999) is an English cricketer who plays for Lancashire Women cricket team, Lancashire, North West Thunder, Manchester Originals, UP Warriorz and England women's cricket team, England. In December 2018, the Internat ...

– 109 T20I wicket *

Hedley Verity Hedley Verity (18 May 1905 – 31 July 1943) was a professional cricketer who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Yorkshire and England national cricket team, England between 1930 and 1939. A Left-arm orthodox spin, slow left-arm orth ...

– 10-10, best bowling figures in a first class inning *

Ajaz Patel Ajaz Yunus Patel (born 21 October 1988) is a New Zealand cricketer who plays for Central Districts in domestic cricket. He emigrated with his family from Mumbai when he was eight years old, and was formerly a left-arm seam bowler. Patel is a sl ...

– Only left-arm spinner to take 10 wickets in an innings of a Test Match *

Monty Panesar Mudhsuden Singh "Monty" Panesar (born 25 April 1982) is a former English international cricketer. A left-arm spinner, Panesar made his Test cricket debut in 2006 against India in Nagpur and One Day International debut for England in 2007. In ...

– 167 Test wickets *

Gudakesh Motie Gudakesh Motie (born 29 March 1995) is a Guyanese cricketer who plays for Guyana in West Indian domestic cricket. He is a left-arm orthodox bowler. He made his international debut for the West Indies cricket team in December 2021. Career Moti ...

, 11 Test matches, 35 Test wickets, 22 One Day International matches 33 ODI wickets and 29 T20I and 31 T20I wickets

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Left-Arm Orthodox Spin Cricket terminology Bowling (cricket) Articles containing video clips