The Flipper in Cricket: The Leg-Spinner's Lethal Skidder

What Is the Flipper?

The flipper is a delivery bowled by a leg-spinner where the ball is squeezed out from beneath the hand — specifically pinched between the thumb and the bent first and second fingers — rather than rolled off the wrist. This creates back-spin, causing the ball to skid through low and fast after pitching rather than bouncing or turning.

Why the Flipper Is So Dangerous

• A batter who has adjusted to playing back against the leg-break now finds the flipper stays low and skids
• The backspin reduces bounce — the ball arrives quicker and lower than expected
• If the batter plays back and the ball does not turn (as the flipper does not), it strikes below their bat
• LBW is a frequent result — the ball hits the front pad after the batter plays across the line
• The delivery looks like a normal leg-break out of the hand, making it very hard to detect

How It Is Bowled

The flipper is squeezed out from beneath the fingers — specifically, it is 'flipped' out using the thumb and the first and second fingers working together to create backspin. The wrist is in a position similar to the leg-break delivery, which is why the disguise is so good. Only elite leg-spinners develop the finger strength and dexterity required to bowl the flipper at pace.

Rarity of the Flipper

The flipper is one of the hardest deliveries to develop in cricket. It requires significant wrist and finger strength, and many leg-spinners try to bowl it but find it uncontrollable. Richie Benaud, Clarrie Grimmett, and Shane Warne are among the few who successfully deployed it as a stock weapon.