10 Mistakes That Can Murder Career of Spin Bowlers – Avoid These!


Published: 1 Feb 2025


Spin bowling in cricket is an art. It’s not just how much can you turn the ball—it’s about control, deception, and patience. The best spin bowlers in the world don’t just rely on raw talent. They master their bowling by overcoming common club-level mistakes.

If you’re a spin bowler and want to stand out from the average bowling lot, watch out for these 10 deadly bowling mistakes that can ruin your cricket career.

spin bowling

1. Not Spinning the Ball Enough

The number one rule of spin bowling is to spin the ball. Many young bowlers focus too much on accuracy and forget that spinning the ball is what they are in the ground for.

The more capable of turning the ball they are, the more unpredictable they become, and that’s the weapon spin bowlers rely upon.
Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, and Abdul Qadir all had different styles, but they spun the ball quite sharply.

Fix It: Focus on the wrist and finger position and rip the ball with confidence, and ask the coach for corrections.

2. The Bowling Pace

But remember, Spin bowling isn’t just about turning the ball—it’s also about how unpredictably you change your bowling pace.

  • If you keep bowling at the same pace, the batter will read you easily, which is the biggest advantage for him. One must also master the variation in the pace.

A spinner needs to find the perfect balance between speed and spin.

Fix It: Experiment with different speeds in practice to find the right pace for your bowling style.

3. Poor Line and Length

A spin bowler with poor control over line and length is a feast for batters. Since spin bowling is not about putting too much force to bowl, the bowler must be accurate in his line and length.

  • Too wide? Gives the batter too much room to open his shoulders and hit the ball wherever he wants to.
  • Too short? The batter will pull it for six or cut in covers for runs.
  • Too full? Will be driven in the gaps for boundaries.

You need to bowl consistently good areas.

Fix It: Aim for a fixed spot during the practice; keep bowling there, and get a grip on your hand to pitch the ball where you want it.

4. Overusing the Same Variation

Surprise is a spinner’s best friend. If you keep bowling the same variation, batsmen will figure it out.

For example, if a leg-spinner keeps bowling googlies, the batsman will start expecting it. If an off-spinner bowls only one type of delivery, they become predictable.

5. Not Using the Crease Effectively

Many spinners forget they can use the crease to change angles.

  • Bowling from wide on the crease creates a different angle.
  • Bowling closer to the stumps forces the batsman to play differently.

Great spinners like Ravichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon use the crease smartly to deceive batsmen.

Fun Fact : Saqlain Mushtaq (the inventor of dosra) sometimes bowled from the back of the start of the crease, the idea was to give more air to the ball)

Fix It: Try bowling from different positions on the crease in practice to see what works in which way.

6. Ignoring Flight and Drift

A lot of things are happening in when the ball is still in the air before it pitches.

  • Flight: Tossing the ball up invites the batsman to drive, giving you a chance to beat them in the air.
  • Drift: Side spin makes the ball move in the air before it lands, deceiving the batsman and getting a chance for a wicket.

Tip: Don’t be afraid to give the ball some air—it’s a key weapon for every spinner, no matter sometimes it’s hit for a six.

7. Lack of a Strong Follow-Through

Your follow-through affects how well you finish your action. If you stop suddenly, you lose balance and accuracy. But you also need to get stable before the batter hits the ball as spinners are in the hunt to catch the ball hit back to them.

8. Poor Field Placements

Spin bowling is all about building pressure, and field placement is a huge part of that.

If you don’t have a short-leg, silly point, or slip in place, you’re missing chances to take wickets. A good field setting makes batsmen uncomfortable and forces mistakes.

Tip: Work with your captain to set attacking fields, especially when bowling to new batsmen.

9. Letting the Batsman Dictate Terms

A spinner should control the game, not react to the batsman.

If a batsman plays aggressively, don’t panic and start bowling defensively. Stick to your strengths, keep your line and length right, and make them take risks.

Tip: Stay calm under pressure and keep believing in your skills.

10. Weak Mental Approach

Spin bowling is a mind game as much as a skill. You need patience and confidence.

If you get hit for a boundary, don’t lose focus. Great spinners keep attacking and trust their ability to get the batsman out.

Fix It: Stay positive, plan your deliveries, and trust your spin!

Final Thoughts

Spin bowling is an art, but even the best spinners make mistakes. Avoid these 10 deadly sins, and you’ll become a more effective, confident bowler.




Hassan Raza Avatar
Hassan Raza