Sri Lanka is known for producing some of the best bowlers, and a South African player with an unorthodox ‘frog-in-the-blender’ style took the world by storm. With bowling being a complex technique to master, honing the proper technique can take a lot of skill and practice to stay consistent. So today, let us check ten of the weirdest bowling actions out there.
#1 Kedar Jadhav (India)
Kedar Jadhav, India’s limited-overs specialist, has been a force to reckon with while bowling. Out of 73 ODIs he has been part of, he has picked up 27 wickets, mostly due to the batsman being bamboozled by his low-arm off-spin deliveries.
#2 Kamran Khan (India)
Kamran Khan achieved acclaim for his stellar performances in the Indian Premier League, a renowned cash-rich tournament. He managed to clock over 140+ kmph and attracted Shane Warne’s attention. Khan claimed six wickets in five matches with his unique left-arm slinger action.
#3 Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)
Lasith Malinga is an iconic example of numerous Sri Lankan cricketers with a bizarre bowling technique. With his slinging motion and a low delivery point, Malinga has flourished on the global stage.
#4 Sohail Tanvir (Pakistan)
Sohail Tanvir from Pakistan made a splash with his one-of-a-kind bowling action. His ability to bowl off the wrong foot earned him considerable success in the abbreviated forms of the sport.
#5 Paul Adams (South Africa)
Before Nicky Boje came along, Paul Adams was South Africa’s only renowned spin bowler. His unusual leap and unexpected, eyes-closed delivery of the ball left even the most incredible batters of the time completely befuddled.
#6 Chris Harris (New Zealand)
Chris Harris also makes this selection of unconventional bowling techniques. He bowled a unique leg spin but with less emphasis on spin and more focus on accuracy and variations in delivery. Harris’ unorthodox approach proved effective and destructive to opponents.
#7 Debashish Mohanty (India)
Debasis Mohanty rose to fame as one of India’s leading young bowlers in the 1990s. His unique bowling style even sparked the inspiration behind the iconic logo of the 1999 Cricket World Cup.
#8 Kevin Koththigoda (SriLanka)
During the 2018 U-19 Asia Cup in Malaysia, the cricket community took notice of an 18-year-old leg-spinner by the name of Kevin Koththigoda and his eye-catching no-look delivery, which was likened to a right-arm version of Paul Adams.
#9 Shivil Kaushik (India)
Shivil Kaushik imitated South Africa’s Paul Adams’ unique style of bowling – a no-look delivery that took the batsman by surprise.
#10 Muttiah Murlitharan (Sri Lanka)
The legendary Muttiah Muralitharan had a unique way of bowling in cricket, concealing the ball in his grip while running up toward the batsman. This made it difficult for the batsman to spot the grip as he delivered the ball very close to his head.