5 legends with the most textbook bowling actions in cricket history

The likes of McGrath, Bedi and Vaas all had technically correct bowling actions

If there's one aspect of cricket that has changed significantly over time, then it probably surrounds bowling. From the early days of the game wherein under-arm bowling was the norm to the recent crackdown on illegal actions, bowlers have had to learn to adapt their trade to the situation at hand.

According to the prevailing rules and regulations in cricket, any bowling action is deemed legal as long as the bowler does not bend his elbow more than the commonly discernible point of 15 degrees. While there may not be any official MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) guideline as to what constitutes the perfect action, reputed coaches as well as long-time cricket aficionados can point out a technically strong bowler from the manner in which he transfers momentum from his run-up to the delivery stride.

Extra Cover: 5 ugly bowling actions in cricket

In no particular order, let us take a close look at the most classical bowling action seen in each of the five different categories of bowlers. Due to the paucity of technically correct options, the classification of slow left-arm chinaman has been left out. For the genre encompassing both right-armers and left-armers, the subsets of fast, fast medium, medium fast and medium are all treated alike.

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#5 Left-arm fast medium - Chaminda Vaas

A fluid bowling action helped Vaas pick up more than 750 international wickets across all formats

The biggest surprise in the article may encircle this particular segment. After all, Wasim Akram remains the bench-mark for all left-arm fast bowlers. While the Pakistani icon's sprightly bowling action helped him conquer numerous opposition batsmen by generating deceptive pace as well as sharp swing, the same action applied enormous pressure on his rotator cuff muscles. However, Chaminda Vaas' bowling action was much more textbook when compared to the elegant pacer.

Operating from a not-so-long run-up, Vaas used to bring his right arm almost parallel to his bowling arm in order to find relentless consistency. The Sri Lankan great did not quite possess searing pace to run through batting lineups. However, his nagging line and commendable tactical nous proved to be the ideal foil for Muttiah Muralitharan. Even as the legendary off-spinner sent down countless overs and amassed wickets aplenty, Vaas rarely let down his captain despite being the only reliable seamer in his team.

Vaas' remarkable tally of 355 Test wickets and 400 ODI scalps saw him become the second most prolific left-arm fast bowler in both premier formats of the game. In what should be vindication of his ability to inspire the next generation, traces of the veteran can be seen in Vishwa Fernando's bowling action.

Watch Vaas' splendid hat-trick in the 2003 World Cup

#4 Right-arm fast medium - Glenn McGrath

McGrath's simple yet powerful bowling action helped him expose technically deficient batsmen

While the other four categories contain bowlers who standout as obvious choices, selecting the most textbook bowling action among right-arm fast bowlers is a much bigger challenge. If Michael Holding's languid run-up earned him the famous moniker of 'Whispering Death', Malcolm Marshall's lithe stride enabled him to outsmart even the most accomplished of batsmen. Then, there are the likes of Sir Richard Hadlee and Dennis Lillee who embodied technical perfection to the core. However, Glenn McGrath gets the nod for having the most easily repeatable action among those of his ilk.

The lanky McGrath limbered towards the batsman with the stealth of a predator fixating on its impending prey. Without deriving thrust solely from his shoulder muscles, almost every part of his body would be in perfect synchronisation when he approached the delivery stride. From then on, the manner in which he effortlessly released the ball spoke volumes of his unwavering control.

In the modern era, no fast bowler can claim to have exploited and exposed the batting techniques of batsmen as much as McGrath did. Much like Marshall and Hadlee before him, he probed his opponent's patience as well as application by targeting the corridor of uncertainty on a regular basis. His tally of 563 wickets remains the most by any seam bowler in the history of Test cricket.

Reminisce McGrath's magical control

#3 Slow left-arm orthodox - Bishan Singh Bedi

The above sequence of images perfectly encapsulate Bedi's silken action

A certain Jim Laker (who incidentally appears in the next segment) had an immediate answer when asked about his Utopian dream. He nonchalantly declared, "My idea of paradise is Lord’s in the sunshine, with Ray Lindwall bowling from one end and Bishan Bedi from the other." Possessing a bowling action which evoked similarities with the precision of a clock's movements, Bishan Singh Bedi had the power to leave everyone in a state of trance whenever he was in the middle of his spell.

Bedi's bowling action was so flawless that it was almost impossible not to be in awe of it. After sauntering from his mark with an inimitable whip of his hip muscles, the left-arm spinner utilised his strong fore-arm to summon tantalising flight and proceeded to entice the batsman. The consummate flow of inertia from his high-arm movement to the supple finish was an ideal study in bio-mechanics. Even though quite a few Indian spinners may have gone past his Test wickets tally, none of them might match up to Bedi's legacy when it comes to aesthetics and allure.

Watch Bedi's enchanting bowling action

#2 Off break (right-arm) - Jim Laker

Jim Laker's legacy extends far beyond his astonishing 19-wicket match haul

If ever there was a palpable case of a sportsman becoming the victim of his own moment of unprecedented success, then Jim Laker's name immediately springs to mind. Even though he has played 46 Tests and picked up 193 wickets at an outstanding average of 21.21 (not to mention his astounding County record), the iconic off-spinner will forever be remembered for his freakish performance in the 1956 Ashes Test at Manchester. On a surface specifically designed to attenuate his strengths and exacerbate the Australian lineup's weakness, he accounted for 19 out of a possible of 20 wickets across the two innings to lead England to victory by landslide margin.

But there was much more to his legacy than just that Test match. At the height of his powers, Laker was the world's leading spinner in an era where numerous other slow bowlers made merry on uncovered pitches. A major chunk of his opulence stemmed from a conventional bowling action. Showing no frills, he ambled from a substantially lesser number of paces and imparted significant drift on the ball. While his bowling action was slightly more front-on when compared to other spinners, the Yorkshire-born cricketer's immaculate release stymied the batsman's pre-meditated trigger movement. In recent times, only Graeme Swann has come close to matching the classical nature of Laker's style of bowling.

Relive Laker's jaw-dropping 19-wicket haul

#1 Leg break (right-arm) - Shane Warne

Shane Warne consistently outclassed batsmen with an uncomplicated bowling action

During his heydays, Shane Warne was cricket's answer to Frank Sinatra. While there have been plenty of other bowlers who resorted to theatrics just to amplify their skills, showmanship was always an essential part of the charismatic Australian's repertoire. Beneath the plump exterior lay a profound intellect which had the aptitude as well as audacity to outclass innumerable batsmen spanning across diverse nationalities. Even as the variations arrived one after another with the sole intent of befuddling, the leg-spinner's uncomplicated bowling action propelled him to become the ultimate master of deception.

Extra Cover: An analysis of Shane Warne's style of bowling

Very rarely did Warne bring out the googly. But his deadly flipper was delivered without any identifiable change in grip. He set off on his serene run-up with the air of a happy-go-lucky guy in the midst of a leisurely stroll. Unbeknownst to the batsman, his calculating mind had already deciphered where he wanted to land the ball and the likely response from his soon-to-be plunder. A sturdy lower-body structure helped him time his bound to the precise moment. The seamless flow of momentum could be perceived from the tranquil manner in which he released the ball. Warne's irreproachable accuracy turned him into the finest wrist-spinner to play the game.

A collection of Warne's ten best deliveries