Leg Cutter in Cricket
How to bowl the leg cutter — the pace variation that moves from leg to off after pitching, like leg-spin but at seam-bowling speed.
The leg cutter is a pace-bowling variation where the ball moves from the leg side to the off side after pitching — mirroring the direction of a leg-break but at a much higher pace. It is particularly effective against left-handed batsmen and on pitches that offer lateral movement.
How to Bowl the Leg Cutter
- Hold the ball in the standard seam grip.
- At release, cut the fingers across the ball from left to right (for a right-arm bowler) — opposite to the off cutter.
- The ball rolls off the middle or ring finger last, imparting anti-clockwise rotation.
- Bowl at a good length on or outside leg stump.
- Maintain a high arm action for maximum pace and steep angle.
Who Does It Trouble Most?
| Batsman type | Why leg cutter is dangerous |
|---|---|
| Left-hander (right-arm bowler) | Ball moving away — classic edge to slips |
| Right-hander with closed face | Unexpected movement after expected line |
| Attacking batsmen going leg side | Ball nips away from the stroke |
Leg Cutter vs Off Cutter
The leg cutter is generally harder to bowl because the wrist and finger action feels less natural for right-arm bowlers. The off cutter is more commonly used on the subcontinent, while the leg cutter is more associated with seam-friendly conditions in England, Australia, and South Africa.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a leg cutter and a legbreak?
Direction is the same — off the leg side. The difference is pace (the leg cutter is fast, the leg-break is slow) and the mechanism (cut fingers vs wrist spin).
Who is famous for the leg cutter?
Malcolm Marshall, Glenn McGrath, and Dale Steyn were all renowned for the leg cutter. More recently, Pat Cummins uses it effectively in Australian conditions.