GuideOct 27, 20264 min read
Types of Deliveries in Cricket: Yorker, Bouncer, Googly and More
Bowlers do not just bowl fast or slow. They have a toolbox of deliveries, each designed to cause a different problem.
Yorker
A ball pitched right at the batter's feet, under the bat. It is hard to hit and often bowls the batter or traps them LBW. Death bowlers use it most.
Bouncer
A short ball that rises towards the batter's head or chest. It is meant to unsettle the batter or force a mistimed shot. Limits apply to how many can be bowled in an over.
Full toss
A ball that reaches the batter without bouncing. It is easy to hit, but a full toss above waist height is a no-ball.
Good length
A ball that pitches a few metres in front of the batter. It makes the batter unsure whether to go forward or back.
Slower ball
A ball bowled with a change of grip so it arrives slower than the batter expects. It is common at the end of limited-overs innings.
Googly
A leg spinner's delivery that looks like a normal leg break but turns the other way, into a right-handed batter.
Doosra
An off spinner's delivery that turns away from the right-handed batter instead of into them.
Arm ball and flipper
The arm ball goes straight on instead of turning. The flipper is a skidding delivery from a leg spinner that stays low.
Quick answers
What is the hardest delivery to play?
Many batters say a fast, full yorker or a late-swinging ball, because there is very little time to adjust.
How many bouncers are allowed per over?
Limits depend on the format and competition, commonly one or two per over in limited-overs cricket.