Spin lends itself to contortions. No wonder the unconventional actions of some spinners became talking points and were copied by many a schoolboy cricketer.
Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne dominated spin bowling in the period from the 90s to the 2000s. They remain the top two highest wicket-takers in Tests even though Muralitharan is long retired and Warne is no more. At no. 1 is the Sri Lankan off-spinner with 800 wickets to his name. Next is the Australian leg-spinner with 708 victims.
Warne was what one would call a traditional leg-spin bowler – a calm approach towards the crease, a neat jump, a great roll of the arm and the use of his wrists to spin the ball in either direction, complemented often with a grunt.
Muralitharan, on the other hand, was unorthodox. Though the bowler’s name sheet always showed off-spinner under his name, Murali appeared to use his wrists more, evident by his action, than his fingers.
Murali’s large, expressive eyes added to his distinctive action.
His compatriot Ajantha Mendis was another talent with a non-traditional bowling action. Marketed as a mystery spinner, he was the one who introduced cricket to what is now called the ‘carrom ball’.
Mendis made his Test debut against India in 2008 on the back of a solid domestic season, with some pundits even comparing him to Muralitharan. He bamboozled the Indian batters in that series, claiming 26 wickets as they failed to read his deliveries. Over time, however, after the batters began studying Mendis, his heavy dependability on the carrom ball would come to light. Not being as lethal would eventually result in his fading, and then retiring in 2019.
Rare is the 80s schoolboy who did not copy the action of Pakistan’s Abdul Qadir. The legendary leggie had a highly angled approach, almost from short mid-off. A big turner, he would finish with a flourish, tongue out, right arm giving the ball a mighty rip, and the left moving back high to balance his body.
To later generations, left-arm spinner Paul Adams is arguably the first name that comes to mind when talking about quirky actions. While spin bowling requires the bowler to assess different elements in order to land the ball in a particular area, Adams’ no-look release of the ball and accuracy left many baffled. A ‘frog in a blender’ is how his action was described.
During an interview with DNA, when asked about his action, Adams said, "It was natural. Ever since I picked up the ball, I bowled with this action. When I started, I bowled quick. At the age of 16, I started bowling spin and at 18, I played for South Africa. It was a lot different and tough. I had to work hard, the way I should bowl and spin. My grip was also very unique. If you have got the passion, you can figure out the way to do it."
Though Adams retired in 2008, cricket fans were reminded of him when Shivil Kaushik entered the Indian Premier League (IPL). He represented Gujarat Lions in 2016, making his debut against Rising Supergiant Pune. Adams hit Twitter with the message, “Remind you of someone! Wow #Kaushik ! Great to see the art of #Chinaman bowling alive #IPL2016 #RPSvGL." Kaushik also represented Hubli Tigers in the Karnataka Premier League.
When asked about comparisons being made to Adams during an interview with CricFit, Kaushik said, "I am honoured to be compared to a legend like him. And I sincerely hope that someday I can play for my country like he did." Calling his action natural, Kaushik also claimed to have not suffered any injuries during his playing career.
Another bowler with some peculiarities in his action is Sunil Narine. Like Muralitharan, he has been reported by umpires for suspect bowling action. But he has been cleared every single time.
His action truly lets him be a mystery for the batters, the result of which is him managing numerous dot balls on days when he’s not getting wickets.
Unorthodox bowling styles not only make for enjoyable viewing, they also inspire young players to be themselves.