What is a googly?
A googly — also called a wrong'un or a Bosie (after its inventor Bernard Bosanquet) — is a variation of leg-spin where the ball spins from off to leg to a right-handed batter, the OPPOSITE of a standard leg-break.
Because the bowler's arm and run-up look identical to a regular leg-spinner, the batter expects the ball to turn away and instead finds it turning sharply into the stumps or pads. It's one of the most lethal weapons in cricket — Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, Abdul Qadir and Yuzvendra Chahal all built careers around disguising it.
The grip
Start with a standard leg-spin grip: the ball rests on the third and fourth fingers, with the index and middle fingers spread across the seam. The thumb sits lightly on the side — almost passive.
For the googly, the grip itself doesn't change much. The magic happens at the wrist.
Wrist position — the secret
For a normal leg-break, the back of the hand faces the batter at release. For a googly, the wrist rotates so the PALM faces the batter and the back of the hand faces YOU. The ball is released over the third finger from the back of the hand.
Visually, the seam will rotate in the opposite direction from a leggie. That backward rotation is what makes the ball grip and spin INTO the right-hander when it lands.
The action — keep it identical
The whole point of a googly is disguise. If your action changes — slower arm, lower release, longer run — quality batters will pick it before it leaves your hand.
Run-up
Same rhythm and length as your stock leg-break. Any change tips the batter off.
Bowling arm
High and clean, identical release point. The arm should look exactly like a leg-break.
Wrist flip
Rotate the wrist at the LAST moment, hidden behind the body during the action.
Follow-through
Complete the action through the crease — don't pull up or 'help' the ball.
Common mistakes
Dropping short
The googly naturally lands shorter than a leg-break. Aim a fraction fuller to compensate.
Telegraphing the wrist
Cocking the wrist early gives the game away. Keep the rotation late and tight.
Bowling it too often
It works because it's a surprise. One every 12–18 balls is plenty.
Strain injuries
Googlies stress the wrist and shoulder. Build up gradually — never bowl it cold.
Drills to practise
Start by simply tossing the ball up out of the back of your hand from a kneeling position. Get used to the feel of the wrist flip before you add the action.
Then bowl off three paces in the nets, focusing only on grip and seam direction — accuracy comes later. Mark a length spot 4–5 metres from the stumps and aim for it.
Once it grips consistently, integrate it into your full run-up. Set a ratio: five leg-breaks for every one googly, then ask a batter to call which is which.
Frequently asked
What's the difference between a googly and a doosra?+
A googly is bowled by a LEG-spinner and spins from off to leg. A doosra is bowled by an OFF-spinner and spins from leg to off. Both are 'wrong'uns' — but for opposite bowler types.
Is a googly a chuck?+
No — a legal googly is bowled with a straight arm. The deception comes from the wrist, not from bending the elbow.
Who invented the googly?+
English cricketer Bernard Bosanquet in the early 1900s. In Australia it's still occasionally called a 'Bosie'.
Can a left-arm wrist spinner bowl a googly?+
Yes — for a left-arm wrist spinner (chinaman bowler), the googly spins AWAY from the right-hander, mirror image of the right-arm version. Kuldeep Yadav uses it constantly.