How to Add Swing to a Cricket Ball

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Cricket coach Adam Bannon explains how to do swing bowling in cricket

Co-authored by Adam Bannon

Last Updated: February 9, 2026 Fact Checked

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Bowling with Conventional Swing

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Bowling with Reverse Swing

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Bowling with Contrast Swing

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Video

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Q&A

The basic idea of swing bowling is to get the cricket ball to swing sideways as it moves towards the batsman. The most important factors in achieving this are the amount of wear and tear on the ball, the speed at which it is bowled, and the bowler’s grip. A swing bowler can use a conventional swing, a reverse swing, or a contrast swing.

How to Swing a Cricket Ball

Cricket coach Adam Bannon says to angle the seam of the ball at 11 o’clock with the rough side facing you to swing the ball to the right. Then, roll your fingers off the back of the ball so the seam is pointing away from the batter: the ball will bounce and swing away from the batter as it comes towards them.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Bowling with Conventional Swing

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Cricket balls swing best before they experience any wear and tear. It should have a prominent seam, and one side that is very shiny.
Grip it with your middle and index fingers on either side of the seam, with the ball resting on your thumb and third finger.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Zendon Verster
Cricket Coach, CoachCricXI

Expert Interview} The shiny side should be facing in the direction of the batsman.^{[2]
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Research source}

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Release the ball with the seam pointing in the direction of the swing. A ball that swings from the leg side toward the off side is an inswing, and a ball that swings from the off side toward the leg side is an outswing.^{[3]
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- To bowl an inswing, release the ball with the seam pointed at about a 20 degree angle towards fine leg.^{[4]
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  Research source} The last point of contact with the ball should be your middle finger.^{[6]
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- To bowl an outswing, release the ball with the seam pointed at about a 20 degree angle towards the slip fielders.^{[7]
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  Research source} The last point of contact with the ball should be your index finger.^{[9]
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- A conventional swing will work best between 30 and 70 mph.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Bowling with Reverse Swing

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A new ball will swing naturally in a conventional direction, but at about this age, wear on ball changes its aerodynamics. It begins to swing in opposite direction of seam, towards the shine.^{[10]
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Keep the ball in good shape. Reverse swinging works best when the smooth side of the ball is very smooth, the rough side is very rough, and the seam is prominent.^{[11]
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- Continually polish the smooth side of the ball during play. Keep in mind, however, that scratching the rough side constitutes tampering, and is illegal.
Grip it with your middle and index fingers on either side of the seam, with the ball resting on your thumb and third finger.^{[12]
X
Expert Source

Zendon Verster
Cricket Coach, CoachCricXI

Expert Interview} The rough side should face the direction of the swing.^{[13]
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Research source}
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Bowl as you would a conventional swing, but with the sides of the ball reversed. This means the shiny side will now be facing away from the batsman. The difference between a conventional swing and a reverse swing is that in the former, the ball swings in the direction of the seam, while in the latter it swings in the opposite direction.^{[14]
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- To bowl an inswing, release the ball with the seam pointed at about a 20 degree angle towards the slip fielders.^{[15]
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  Research source}^{[16]
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  Research source} The last point of contact with the ball should be your middle finger.^{[17]
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  Research source}
- To bowl an outswing, release the ball with the seam pointed at about a 20 degree angle towards fine leg.^{[18]
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  Research source}^{[19]
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  Research source}The last point of contact with the ball should be your index finger.^{[20]
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- Bowl hard. The faster you are able to bowl, the more effectively you will be able to achieve a reverse swing. The speed necessary also depends on the state of the ball; the rougher the rough side of the ball is, the less speed you will need.^{[21]
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  Zendon Verster
  Cricket Coach, CoachCricXI
  
  Expert Interview}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Bowling with Contrast Swing

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As with conventional and reverse swings, one side should be distinctly shiny, and the other side distinctly rough. Keep the ball as dry as possible.^{[22]
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Grip it with your middle and index fingers on either side of the seam, with the ball resting on your thumb and third finger.^{[23]
X
Expert Source

Zendon Verster
Cricket Coach, CoachCricXI

Expert Interview}
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Bowl with the seam pointing straight down the pitch. The direction of the swing will be determined by the speed at which you throw.
- At a low speed (under 70mph), the ball will swing toward the rough side.^{[24]
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- At a high speed (over 70mph), the ball will swing toward the smooth side.^{[25]
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- Note that the exact speed that determines the direction of the swing will vary based on the amount of wear on the ball.^{[26]
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Community Q&A

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Question

Where can I find a video that shows the wrist and the grip during the swing?

Community Answer

Try YouTube. Look for a master class by someone great at swing bowling such as James Anderson or Wasim Akram.

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Question

How can I improve my batting?

Community Answer

Practice everyday. Focus on the ball and play the shot in the direction where balls come.

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Question

I am trying to swing the ball but I cannot. Is it my problem, or the ball's?

Community Answer

A conventional swing should be done with a new ball, a reverse swing should be done with an old ball, and in a conventional swing you can use any of them.

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