inswingers

An inswinger is a type of delivery in cricket bowling. It is primarily associated with fast bowlers and swing bowlers. An inswinger is bowled such that it moves from an 'off' direction towards the batsman's body (off-stump to leg-stump for a right-handed batsman or leg-stump to off-stump for a left-handed batsman) in the air. This movement is achieved through the principles of aerodynamics, where the air pressure on one side of the ball is different from the other.

To execute an inswinger, a bowler typically grips the ball with the seam pointing towards the batsman. The ball is then released with an angle of the seam that encourages the air to flow differently around it. The side of the ball with the smoother surface (usually the one that has been polished) experiences lower air pressure, causing the ball to curve towards the side with higher air pressure. The skill of an inswinger lies in its ability to deceive the batsman, as the ball appears to be heading for a particular line but then deviates inwards. This can lead to the batsman being bowled, trapped leg before wicket (LBW), or playing an uncertain shot. It is a challenging delivery to master, requiring precise control over the seam position and release angle. Conversely, an outswinger moves away from the batsman.