spin bowler

IPA/ˈspɪn ˌbəʊ.lər/
IPA/ˈspɪn ˌboʊ.lɚ/

spin bowler — noun

1. a player in the sport of cricket who throws the ball using a wrist or finger mov

1.nounB2
Definition

a player in the sport of cricket who throws the ball using a wrist or finger movement that makes the ball turn to one side after it bounces on the ground, making it harder for the batter to hit well

Example

The young spin bowler Nala spent hours practising her bowling in the team's training nets.

A good spin bowler can make the ball turn sideways after it hits the ground.

collocation: 'make the ball turn' + 'after it hits the ground'

Common collocations
  • leg-spin bowler
  • left-arm spin bowler
  • right-arm spin bowler
  • lead spin bowler
  • spin bowler bowls
  • spin bowler takes wickets
  • spin bowler practises
Synonyms
  • slow bowler

    broader term; any bowler who bowls at a slow speed, not necessarily using spin

  • finger spinner

    a type of spin bowler who gets spin mainly from finger movement, such as an off-spin bowler

  • tweaker

    informal cricket slang for a spin bowler; common in locker-room talk

Antonyms
  • fast bowler

    a bowler who relies on high speed rather than spin to get batters out

  • pace bowler

    same as fast bowler; preferred term in some English-speaking cricket nations

Usage Note

Common in cricket commentary and sports journalism. The opposite style of bowler is called a fast bowler or pace bowler, who relies on throwing speed rather than spin.

Common Mistakes

The spin bowler threw the ball very fast.
The spin bowler made the ball turn sharply.
Spin bowlers are judged by the turn of the ball, not by their throwing speed.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All these terms describe a cricket player who bowls with spin rather than speed. Slow bowler is the broadest category and includes any bowler who bowls slowly, not just those who use spin. Finger spinner is a subtype that refers specifically to bowlers who get turn from their fingers (off-spin, left-arm orthodox). Tweaker is an informal, slang term used inside the sport. A spin bowler is the standard term and covers both finger spinners and wrist spinners (leg-spin, googly). For example, 'The team already has two fast bowlers but needs a spin bowler for the dusty pitch.' On that surface, a slow bowler who cannot spin the ball would be far less effective.

spin bowler ↗slow bowlertweakerfinger spinner

Common collocations

Nouns

  • spin bowler delivery
  • spin bowler technique
  • spin bowler wicket
  • spin bowler captain

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

The compound 'spin bowler' comes from the cricket world, dating to the late 1800s when bowling styles became more specialised. 'Spin' goes back to Old English 'spinnan' (to draw out and twist fibres), and 'bowler' is the agent noun of 'bowl' — in cricket, to throw the ball towards the batter. The two words were combined to name a player who makes the ball spin in the air or off the pitch, as opposed to a fast bowler who relies on speed.