You can't really expect to win a game of cricket without dismissing, or bowling out, several or all of the opposition. Here we show you how it's done by the men at the top, and discuss the ways in which they ply their trade.

Opening bowlers are, literally, the giants of cricket – huge, tall men with a killer instinct.

Batsmen don't see left-arm fast bowlers all that frequently, so having one to open the bowling is a priceless asset.

Off-spin, a traditional skill, has produced the greatest bowling figures in the history of the game, Jim Laker's 19-90 against Australia at Old Trafford in 1956.

Orthodox left-arm spin is considered more dangerous than off-spin as it spins away from the right-handed batsman (from right to left).

Leg spin is by far the most exciting and potentially devastating type of spin, and also the hardest to master. It is frequently described as 'wrist spin' while off-spin and left-arm spin are labelled as 'finger spin'

Channel 4's Richie Benaud shares his insights into the art of leg-spin bowling.

Very occasionally, you'll hear commentators going on about a chinaman. The origins of the name are obscure, but there might be an indirect connection with Shanghai.

Setting attacking fields puts pressure on the batsman and increases the chances of getting a wicket, but it can also create more scoring opportunities.

It is with good reason that the bouncer is the most feared delivery in cricket. Propelled somewhere near the middle of the pitch, it's aimed to rise up towards the batsman's jaw and make life uncomfortable for him.

The yorker is the other extreme attacking option. Instead of bouncing the ball at the batsman's upper body, it's an attempt to sneak it under his bat.

Opening bowlers will always begin by gripping and releasing the ball 'seam-up'. It is the conventional method to try to get deviation off the pitch (referred to as seam bowling).

Swing bowling is an incredibly fragile art. Some bowlers seem to have the action and aptitude to achieve it, others don't. Even those who can, find that there are days when they can't

The opening bowler's number one priority is to make the batsman play. Incite indecision in a batsman and you're over halfway to getting him out.

Bowlers don't always make full use of their height but those that do, such as Andy Caddick, can generate steep bounce to unsettle the batsman.

While the line of a particular delivery determines where it is hit, the Ôlength' generally dictates whether it is hittable in the first place. For a bowler of any speed, fast or slow, a good length ball is one they hope won't be scored off (particularly if it's straight) because it's not full enough to drive or short enough to pull or cut.

By the fourth innings, the pitch could be really damaged and pockmarked, and here the spinner can come into his own.

The run-up is actually one of the most neglected areas of the fast- bowler's technique as few take the trouble to mark it out accurately.

There is perpetual argument about what makes a good fast bowler's action but one thing's for sure, the explosiveness of fast bowling puts a lot of strain on your body however you let go of the ball.

Spin bowling is one of the most intriguing aspects of the game – the variations a good spinner can input on a ball defy explanation.

Watching the actions of different bowlers is fascinating because there is a bewildering variety of ways of getting the ball from A to B.