The Flipper: Cricket's Most Deceptive Leg-Spin Variation
The flipper is a leg-spin variation that skids through low and fast, often catching batters lbw or bowled when they expect a standard leg-break.
The flipper is a leg-spin variation that slides out of the front of the hand with backspin applied by squeezing the ball between the thumb and first two fingers. It skids quickly off the pitch, staying low and rushing the batter, making it one of the most difficult deliveries to pick up.
How to Bowl the Flipper
Hold the ball between the thumb and the first two fingers with the seam running horizontally. Squeeze and flick the ball out at release with a clicking motion of the fingers, imparting backspin. The ball is released from the front of the hand rather than over the top, so the arm action can look similar to a standard leg-break.
What Makes It Effective
The backspin reduces the ball's bounce and causes it to skid on after pitching faster than expected. Batters used to the loop and turn of a standard leg-break or googly are surprised by the flat, quick trajectory. Shane Warne dismissed several world-class batters with the flipper when they played across the line expecting a leg-break.
Defending Against the Flipper
Batters can look for the flatter trajectory and slightly different arm height at release. The flipper arrives faster and with less loop than a standard leg-break. Playing late, keeping the bat close to the pad, and resisting the drive are the keys to surviving the flipper.
Frequently asked questions
What is a flipper in cricket?
A flipper is a leg-spin variation bowled with backspin by squeezing the ball between the thumb and first two fingers. It skids through low and fast with minimal bounce, surprising batters who expect a leg-break.
Who made the flipper famous in cricket?
Shane Warne made the flipper famous, using it to dismiss batters across the world. He learned it from Richie Benaud and used it sparingly to maximise its surprise value.