Bowlers in cricket are players who are tasked with the job of dismissing the batters and simultaneously restricting the team’s scoring rate. They do so by delivering the ball at different speeds, pitching the ball in varying lines and lengths, while simultaneously imparting a range of variations on the ball.
The art of bowling a skillful delivery across 22 yards to create options for a legal delivery is possible due to the range of variations that a bowler has at disposal. While some bowlers resort to pace and swing for getting wickets, some others depend on spinning the ball in different directions to gain advantage. As the sport of cricket grew, the scoring rate of the teams increased. This led to bowlers being challenged at various fronts, forcing them to devise newer ways of bowling.
The change in batsmanship led to the bowlers being classified as orthodox and unorthodox. The latter are the class of bowlers that approached the art of bowling differently by creating subtle variations in spin, pace, and swing. The orthodox bowlers are the ones who are strict disciplinaries that prefer to bowl with traditional styles at the conventional line and lengths.
The unorthodox bowlers in pace bowling are the ones who have an unconventional bowling action. The variation in their bowling action is such that the ball is released at a different angle and a height compared to the traditional ways. This change in bowling action adds to the variations on the ball after pitching, making them difficult for the batters to approach to. Some classic examples include Jasprit Bumrah, Sohail Tanvir, and Lasith Malinga.
Unorthodox bowling by spinners can be seen in both their bowling actions, and the technique with which they deliver the ball. Unorthodox right arm spin bowlers are ones who deliver the ball with their wrist and pitch it such that the ball turns from right to left. Furthermore, left arm unorthodox wrist spinners are those who deliver the ball such that it travels from off to leg after pitching. Notable spin bowlers with unorthodox bowling action are Muttiah Muralitharan, and Danish Kaneria, Paul Adams.
Unorthodox bowlers are thus bowlers who create a new challenge for batters in terms of bowling variations.
