Contrast Swing in Cricket

A form of swing that comes from surface roughness on the ball, not the seam's angle.

What is a Contrast Swing?

Distinct from both conventional and reverse swing. Conventional swing depends on the seam being angled so one side of the ball meets more resistance. Contrast swing happens with the seam held upright, and instead relies on one side of the ball being rougher than the other, the ball moves toward the rougher side because air clings to it for longer. Almost any bowler can produce it, not just express pace bowlers, since it doesn't depend on generating reverse swing's usual speed threshold.

In play

A medium-pacer, well short of the pace normally needed for reverse swing, still gets the old ball to dip late because one side has roughened up more than the other.

More bowling terms

• MaidenAn over with no runs off the bat, wides, or no-balls. Also used for a player's first-ever milestone (maiden century, maiden call-up).
• DoosraAn off-spinner's delivery that turns the opposite way — away from a right-handed batter.
• GooglyA leg-spinner's delivery that turns the opposite way — into a right-handed batter instead of away.
• Carrom BallA delivery flicked off the bent middle finger, like a carrom board flick, that spins unpredictably.
• FlipperA leg-spinner's backspin delivery that skids on low and fast, trapping batters LBW.
• YorkerA full delivery aimed at the batter's feet, landing in the crease area.