offspin

Offspin, or off spin bowling, is a type of spin bowling in cricket where the bowler uses finger spin to make the ball rotate and turn off the pitch. For a right-handed batsman, the ball typically turns from the off side toward the leg side after landing; for a left-handed batsman the direction is reversed. The term derives from the ball’s tendency to turn away from the batsman when bowled from the off field.

Technical basics include a grip with the ball resting against the index finger, the seam held upright or angled, and the release driven primarily by the index finger and wrist. The thumb supports the ball but does not impart spin. The aim is to produce observable rotation around a vertical axis, causing the ball to deviate off the pitch and into the expected corridor of the batsman.

Orthodox offspin is the standard delivery and generally offers a combination of flight, drift, and a turning leg-side ball after pitching. Variations include top-spin, which adds height and a steeper trajectory and may reduce turn; the doosra, a delivery that spins in the opposite direction to the standard offspin and is used to deceive the batsman; and slower or flatter deliveries that alter pace and line. Some bowlers experiment with grip tweaks or finger movements, sometimes described as carrom-ball variants, to produce different deviations.

In modern cricket, offspinners serve as control bowlers who mix variations in pace, length, and flight to frustrate batsmen, build pressure, and capitalize on assisting conditions. They are especially common in longer formats, where economy and consistency are valued alongside wicket-taking possibilities.