All text content on this website is the copyright of Channel 4 unless stated or indicated. All photographs are reproduced courtesy of Getty Images UK Ltd unless otherwise stated.

CRICKET ROADSHOWS

Week 12 Review - 28 Jul, Southampton Warne gives wrist spin masterclass

Shane Warne, the world's best leg-spinner, gave an extended insight into the art of wrist spin in a fascinating masterclass on Saturday's Cricket Roadshow.

Warne, who is Australia's leading Test wicket-taker, ran through his beguiling repertoire on a sun-drenched morning at Hampshire's magnificent new Rose Bowl stadium.

The bleach-blond wicket machine, recently named one of the five cricketers of the 20th century, said his love of leg-spin began when he was a youngster.

"Spin bowling has always fascinated me, since I was a kid growing up. The only reason I started bowling was because I was curious to watch the ball go the other way.

"Spin bowling's always been a curious thing and for the spectator it's funny to watch all the so-called mysteries of spin bowling, but basically there's not too many mysteries."

He then proceeded to hand out a string of tips to any would-be Warneys, beginning with the bowling grip.

"There's not too much you can't do from a basic grip. The grip is the easiest thing, it's two fingers up and two fingers down and the ball just slots in. The thumb just rests on the ball and it's as easy as that. But it's a comfort thing.

"Once you get the grip right then it's about the tension and how hard you grip the ball. The reason I grip it very lightly is that when you're walking in with your run-up you want to be able to feel relaxed. You don't want to be too tight and tense. I feel the tighter you have that then the more tense you are coming to the pitch, so it's all about being relaxed and I think that helps me."

Warne is such a skilled bowler he has an amazing 12 different deliveries in his armoury, three of which he ran through three on the Roadshow.

Having demonstrated his stock leg-break delivery – "It's all about wrist positioning" – Warne went on to run through his googly and slider.

"The googly is exactly the same grip [as the leg-break] but instead of bowling it like the leg-break it actually comes out of the back of the hand," he explained.

"I started bowling the slider because a lot of people started to pick the flipper because it is a totally different delivery. When you start bowling a slider it's all about the pace you bowl the ball.

"You want to get it at a similar pace to the leg-break. You can also bowl an over-spinner which will look like a leg-break but goes straight over the top, but a slider comes more out between the fingers and slides on – hence the name slider."

Warne then moved his attention to the run-up.

"The run-up is something that's up to you to feel comfortable with. It's an individual thing. For me I like to build up momentum through the crease. All that your run-up is doing is getting yourself ready to deliver the ball and you should do whatever feels comfortable for you.

"Mushtaq Ahmed bounds when he comes in and Abdul Qadir is the same, Anil Kumble likes to jump, but I like to come in slowly. The reason I come off eight paces is because I slowly build it up then a few paces out I start to gather and then get momentum through the crease.

"That's the whole idea of my run-up, to build up my momentum. But you want to make sure you're still in control because it's very important as a leg-spin bowler to use your hips and your back leg.

"It's important to make sure everything's going straight towards the batsman. You're not coming in at too much of an angle, unless with an angle you actually straighten at the point of release."

In summary he said the main thing was to practice hard, persevere and make sure you've got the basics right before trying out the varieties.

"One of the hardest things as a spin bowler when your growing up is to grip the ball and have the accuracy, so as a spin bowler you can get whacked out the park and lose the ball and all your mates start saying 'that's a good delivery isn't it, it's out for six'. But no matter how far they hit you out of the park the ball will always come back, or another ball, so you still get a chance to get him out next ball.

"The most important thing for a spin bowling is having patience, and being able to work and to make sure you practice the right thing. That is the technique. My idea of practice is the first 15-20 minutes I'll bowl leg-breaks, 15 minutes of variations but then always finish off on the leg-breaks. The leg-break is the most important delivery so keep practicing that one," said Warne.

It was a truly mesmerizing masterclass from one of the best cricketers the world has ever seen, one that will hopefully prove inspirational to budding youngsters keen to take up the leg-spin art. For England's sake, we could do with a few.

Mail the Cricket Show team at cricketshow@cricket4.com

Click to return to C4 cricket shows