The Carrom Ball in Cricket — How It Works and Who Bowls It
A guide to the carrom ball: the delivery flicked from the fingertips like a carrom counter, used by off-spinners and leg-spinners to surprise batters with unexpected turn and bounce.
What Is a Carrom Ball?
A carrom ball is a bowling delivery where the ball is flicked from between the thumb and a bent index or middle finger — in the same way a carrom piece is flicked in the board game of the same name. Unlike a standard spin delivery gripped in the fingers or wrist, the carrom ball is squeezed out from between two fingers, producing an unusual axis of rotation that makes its behaviour unpredictable after pitching.
How It Moves
The carrom ball can be bowled to spin in multiple directions depending on the angle of the finger flick. It typically produces top-spin or side-spin in unusual amounts, causing the ball to skid on or turn sharply in directions the batter does not expect. The key element is that the action looks similar to an off-break or leg-break delivery until release, making it hard to read from the hand. The carrom ball often bounces at an unexpected height as well, adding to the difficulty for the batter.
Notable Carrom Ball Bowlers
Ajantha Mendis of Sri Lanka is the most famous carrom ball bowler in cricket history. His debut series against India in 2008 was sensational, as batters could not pick the delivery from his hand. Ravichandran Ashwin (India) has also incorporated a carrom ball into his repertoire, using it as one of several variations alongside his standard off-break and arm ball. The delivery is particularly effective in T20 cricket where batters have little time to react to unusual spin.
Frequently asked questions
What is a carrom ball in cricket?
A carrom ball is delivered by flicking the ball from between two fingers like a carrom piece, producing unusual spin and bounce that makes it difficult for batters to read.
Who invented the carrom ball in cricket?
Ajantha Mendis of Sri Lanka is credited with popularising the carrom ball in international cricket, though the delivery has been used in South Asian club cricket for many years.