Flipper in Cricket: The Leg-Spinner's Skidding Surprise
The flipper is a leg-spinner's variation delivery with back-spin that skids through low and fast, threatening the batsman's stumps and catching them by surprise.
What Is the Flipper in Cricket?
The flipper is a variation delivery used by leg-spin bowlers. It is bowled with back-spin imparted by squeezing the ball out between the thumb and the first two fingers. The back-spin causes the ball to skid through low and fast after bouncing, rather than rising or turning as batsmen expect from a leg-spinner.
How the Flipper Differs from a Standard Leg-Break
| Delivery | Spin Type | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Leg-break | Topspin / side spin | Turns away from RHB, rises |
| Flipper | Back-spin | Skids through low, does not turn much |
Why the Flipper Is Hard to Play
- Batsmen expect a leg-spinner to turn the ball or pitch it up in flight
- The flipper comes through quickly at a lower trajectory
- Can be bowled as a yorker-length delivery that skims under the bat
- Very difficult to detect at the point of release
Learning the Flipper
The flipper is one of the hardest deliveries to develop — even elite leg-spinners often drop it from their armoury because generating back-spin consistently puts enormous pressure on the fingers and wrist. Richie Benaud (Australia) was among the greatest exponents of the flipper before Warne.
Frequently asked questions
What is the flipper in cricket?
The flipper is a leg-spinner's variation that uses back-spin to skid through low and fast, rather than turning or rising as expected.
How is the flipper bowled?
The ball is squeezed between the thumb and first two fingers at release, imparting back-spin that keeps the ball low.
Which leg-spinners are famous for the flipper?
Shane Warne and Richie Benaud are the most famous practitioners of the flipper in Test cricket.