Bowling on Leg Stump: Strategy, Risks, and When Teams Use It
Bowling on or outside leg stump is one of cricket's most contentious tactical choices — limiting scoring but risking wide calls and negative play accusations. This guide covers the leg-stump line strategy, when it is used, how batsmen counter it, and why the 1981 bodyline crisis shaped its limits.
Bowling consistently on or outside leg stump is a tactical choice that limits a batsman's scoring options but sacrifices control over wicket-taking. When a bowler aims outside leg stump, the batsman cannot be caught behind (the ball is passing wide of the off-side field) or lbw (the ball pitching outside leg stump cannot be given lbw under Law 36). The bowler is essentially trading dismissal potential for run restriction — a trade that is controversial but sometimes tactically defensible.
The Bodyline Context
The 1932-33 Ashes Bodyline series (England in Australia) is the defining historical example of leg-side bowling taken to its extreme: Harold Larwood bowled short-pitched deliveries aimed at the batsman's body with a packed leg-side field (six or seven fielders on the leg side). The tactic was designed to counter Bradman (averaging 99.94) — and it worked statistically (Bradman averaged 56 in the series vs his career 99.94). But it caused physical injuries to Australian batsmen, diplomatic crises between the two cricket boards, and ultimately led to Law 41 (Dangerous and Unfair Play) and field placing restrictions that still exist. The Bodyline legacy permanently shapes how leg-side bowling is regulated and perceived.
Modern Leg-Stump Tactics
Modern leg-stump bowling: spin bowlers sometimes bowl outside leg stump on turning pitches to limit aggressive batsmen (particularly in T20 — the 'around the wicket into the rough' strategy). Seam bowlers occasionally bowl into the stumps (full, straight) on leg stump to induce LBW or bowled — different from genuinely outside leg. The genuine 'block the legs' tactic is more common in ODI and T20 cricket in the final overs: a negative off-cutter bowled at leg stump with a packed off-side field gives the batsman only leg-side options but prevents boundary-hitting through off-side.
Batsman Counter-Strategies
How batsmen counter leg-stump bowling: the sweep shot (played across the line, targeted at square leg/fine leg); the slog sweep (hit with power through mid-wicket/long-on); the paddle sweep (fine leg for a single); or simply walking across the stumps to cover the line and expose the off-side field. The switch hit (reversing the batsman's stance mid-delivery) is specifically effective against leg-stump bowling — it converts the leg-side field into the off-side and opens up the entire field. Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler's switch hit mastery is partly a response to the prevalence of leg-stump restriction bowling.
Frequently asked questions
Can you be LBW from a delivery pitching outside leg stump?
No — Law 36 specifically states that a batsman cannot be given out LBW to a delivery that pitches outside leg stump. This is a key reason why bowling on or outside leg stump limits wicket-taking opportunities: the bowler removes LBW as a possible dismissal. The law exists because a ball pitching outside leg stump often turns away from the stumps (for spin) or angles wide, making LBW genuinely unlikely.
What was the Bodyline bowling strategy?
Bodyline was England's 1932-33 Ashes strategy: fast bowler Harold Larwood bowled short-pitched deliveries aimed at the Australian batsmen's bodies with a packed leg-side field (6-7 fielders on the leg side). The tactic caused physical injuries, diplomatic crises, and ultimately led to Law 41 (dangerous and unfair play) and field placing restrictions limiting leg-side fielders. England won the series but the strategy was widely condemned and is considered one of cricket's most controversial chapters.
How many fielders can be placed on the leg side?
Under Law 41.3, no more than two fielders can be behind square leg on the leg side at any time during a delivery. This field restriction was introduced as a direct result of the Bodyline series (1932-33) to prevent a packed leg-side field being used with aggressive short-pitched bowling at the body. A bowler can place any number of leg-side fielders in front of square — the restriction applies only to fielders behind the batting crease.