What does "over the wicket" and "round the wicket" mean?


IPL 2023 Winner

🏏 "Over the wicket" and "round the wicket" are terms used to describe the angle and position from which a bowler delivers the ball in cricket. These tactics help bowlers create different angles and variations to challenge batters.


📌 Over the Wicket:

  • The bowler delivers the ball from the natural side of the stumps.

    • For a right-arm bowler: Bowling from the left of the stumps (bowler's perspective).

    • For a left-arm bowler: Bowling from the right of the stumps.

  • It is the more conventional approach, providing a typical angle to the batter.

Example:
A right-arm fast bowler bowling to a right-handed batter from over the wicket will angle the ball from the off-stump toward the leg side.


📌 Round the Wicket:

  • The bowler delivers the ball from the opposite side of the stumps.

    • For a right-arm bowler: Bowling from the right of the stumps.

    • For a left-arm bowler: Bowling from the left of the stumps.

  • It creates a sharper, more challenging angle for the batter, often used to exploit weaknesses or to attack the stumps.

Example:
A left-arm spinner bowling to a right-handed batter from round the wicket may create a more difficult angle, making it harder for the batter to judge the spin.


🎯 Why Use These Tactics?

  • Over the wicket: To maintain a conventional angle and control.

  • Round the wicket: To create variation, attack rough patches on the pitch, and target specific weaknesses.

Bowlers often switch between these approaches to unsettle batters and find breakthroughs!