Bowling Action Types in Cricket Explained
Cricket bowling actions range from the classical high-arm to the round-arm and chest-on — each generating different amounts of pace, swing, and spin from different angles and release points.
Types of Bowling Actions
A bowling action in cricket describes the body position, arm angle, and delivery stride that a bowler uses to deliver the ball. The two primary axes of variation are the position of the front-on (chest facing the batter) versus side-on (chest facing mid-off) alignment at delivery, and the height of the bowling arm (high, medium, or round arm). Both variations create different release angles and different directions of movement in the air and off the pitch.
- Side-on high arm — textbook action for swing and seam, produces conventional outswing
- Front-on high arm — more front-chest facing at delivery, generates inswing naturally
- Round-arm — arm released at or below shoulder height, flatter trajectory and less bounce
- Over the wicket — bowling from the right side of the stumps for a right-arm bowler
- Around the wicket — bowling from the left side of the stumps for a right-arm bowler
Over and Around the Wicket
In addition to the basic action, bowlers can choose to bowl over the wicket (their bowling arm is on the same side as the stumps) or around the wicket (bowling arm is on the opposite side). Right-arm pace bowlers bowl over the wicket naturally, attacking right-handed batters on the off side. Around the wicket changes the angle, angling the ball into a right-hander and potentially finding the footmarks left by the bowler. Left-arm spin bowlers often bowl around the wicket to attack the rough outside right-handers' off stump — as Shane Warne famously did against left-handers in his later career.
Frequently asked questions
What is a bowling action in cricket?
A bowling action is the complete body mechanics a bowler uses to deliver the ball — including run-up, loading position, front-foot landing, arm angle, and follow-through.
What is a side-on bowling action?
A side-on action has the bowler's chest facing mid-off (side-on to the batter) at the point of delivery, generating natural outswing for right-arm pace bowlers.
What does bowling around the wicket mean?
Bowling around the wicket means the bowler delivers from the opposite side of the stumps to their bowling arm — changing the angle of attack and useful against left-handed batters or for attacking footmarks.