Googly facts for kids

A googly is a very clever and tricky type of bowling delivery in the game of cricket. It's bowled by a right-arm leg spin bowler, and it's designed to surprise the batsman! Sometimes, people call it a Bosie (or Bosey), named after the person who invented it, Bernard Bosanquet.

What is a Googly?

In cricket, a bowler tries to get the batsman out by bowling the ball in different ways. A googly is one of the most deceptive deliveries. It looks like a normal leg-spin ball, but it actually spins in the opposite direction! This makes it very hard for the batsman to guess where the ball will go after it bounces.

How is a Googly Bowled?

A right-arm leg-spin bowler usually spins the ball from leg to off (away from a right-handed batsman). To bowl a googly, the bowler holds the ball in a special way. They twist their wrist sharply at the moment of release. This makes the ball spin off the pitch towards the leg side for a right-handed batsman. It's the opposite of what the batsman expects from a leg-spinner!

The Deception

The main goal of a googly is to trick the batsman. The bowler's arm action often looks exactly the same as when they bowl a regular leg-break. This means the batsman can't tell the difference until the ball bounces. If the batsman misjudges the spin, they might miss the ball or hit it in a way that gets them out.

Who Invented the Googly?

The googly was invented by an English cricketer named Bernard Bosanquet. He was a right-arm leg-spin bowler. He first used this tricky delivery in the early 1900s. It quickly became a famous and effective weapon for bowlers. Bosanquet's invention changed how leg-spin bowling was played.

Famous Googly Bowlers

Many great bowlers throughout cricket history have used the googly. They used it to get important wickets and win matches. Some famous bowlers known for their googly include Reggie Schwarz from South Africa. He was one of the first to master it. Later, bowlers like Shane Warne and Anil Kumble also used variations of this delivery. It remains a key part of a leg-spinner's arsenal today.

Images for kids

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  Reggie Schwarz, known for using the googly as his stock delivery

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  Alternative/non-conventional leg spin grip - fingers view

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  Alternative/non-conventional leg-spin grip - thumb view