The term “googly” was first used by English cricketer Bernard Bosanquet in the early 1900s. Bosanquet, playing for Middlesex, developed this clever ball that looked like a normal leg break but actually turned the opposite way, from the off side to the leg side.
When asked what he called this delivery, Bosanquet reportedly responded, “I don’t know, but it’s a ‘googly’ sort of ball.” The name stuck and spread as other bowlers began copying his technique.
Interestingly, there are a few theories about why Bosanquet chose the word “googly”:
- It may have been inspired by the googly eyes used on fishing lures, since the ball was also intended to deceive.
- Some believe it comes from cricket slang at the time, where “googly” meant something tricky or skiddy.
- Others think Bosanquet simply made up a nonsense word that sounded appropriate for this wily delivery.
Regardless of the exact reasoning, “googly” perfectly captures the surprising, baffling nature of the ball. Thanks to Bosanquet’s invention and terminology, googly has become an iconic part of cricket’s lexicon over the past 120 years.
Did Shane Warne Have a Googly?
Legendary Australian leg spinner Shane Warne, while a master of spin bowling, did not consider the googly his strongest weapon. In his own words, “I didn’t have a great googly, but I think it was effective when I bowled it. My stock ball was the leg-spinner” (source).
However, Warne’s mastery of other variations like the top-spinner and the flipper more than made up for any perceived weakness in his googly.
Can a Finger Spinner Bowl a Googly?
While the googly is typically associated with wrist spinners, some skilful finger spinners have also developed the ability to bowl a version of the googly.
As former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh explains, “You have to use your wrist a lot more than your fingers. It’s not easy for a finger spinner, but with practice, it’s possible to bowl a googly” (source).
What’s the Difference Between a Googly and a Doosra?
Both the googly and the doosra are deceptive deliveries in a spinner’s arsenal, but they are distinct. The googly is bowled by a leg spinner and turns from the off side to the leg side, while the doosra is bowled by an off-spinner and turns from the leg side to the off side.
Former Pakistani off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, the inventor of the doosra, clarifies: “The doosra is the other one, the second one, the off-spinner’s version of the googly” (source).
Googly Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of googly?
Googly is a term used in cricket and it refers to a type of delivery bowled by a spinner which spins in the opposite direction to the one the batsman expects.
Who came up with the word googly?
The word googly was coined by the English cricketer Bernard Bosanquet in the early 1900s to describe his new type of delivery.
How did Bernard Bosanquet come up with the idea of the googly?
Bernard Bosanquet was experimenting with different types of deliveries while playing for his university team and he discovered that he could bowl a delivery that spun in the opposite direction to his normal leg break.
What is the difference between a googly and a leg break?
A leg break is a type of delivery bowled by a spinner that spins from the leg side to the off side for a right-handed batsman. A googly, on the other hand, spins in the opposite direction to the leg break and is difficult for the batsman to pick.
Have there been any famous bowlers who have bowled googlies?
Yes, there have been many famous bowlers who have mastered the art of bowling googlies, including Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, and Muttiah Muralitharan, among others.
Is the googly still used in cricket today?
Yes, the googly is still a popular delivery in the game of cricket and is used by many spin bowlers to deceive and outclass the batsmen.
