What is reverse swing?

To be honest, reverse swing is just swing in many respects. The ball curves through the air. It might curve to the left. It might curve to the right.

Cricketers always shine one side of a ball and let the other scuff up. If the ball is bowled with one of these sides on the left and the other on the right and the ball retains this position through the air, then the ball can swing.

With normal swing, which happens when the ball is newer, the ball will swerve towards the rough side. With reverse swing, which happens when the ball is older, the ball will swerve towards the shiny side. You don't want to know why. This section of the website is 'what is...?' It's not 'why does...?'

Some people believe reverse swing to be one of the dark arts, like witchcraft or physics. It isn't. Although we accept that there is an element of physics involved.

What is swing bowling?

Other mysterious cricket terminology