Leg theory is a bowling tactic in the sport of cricket. The term leg theory is somewhat archaic and seldom used any more, but the basic tactic still plays a part in modern cricket. Darren Gough bowling In the sport of cricket, bowling is the action of propelling the ball towards the batsman. ... For the insect, see Cricket (insect). ...

Simply put, leg theory involves concentrating the bowling attack at or near the line of leg stump. This may or may not be accompanied by a concentration of fielders on the leg side. The line of attack aims to cramp the batsman, making him play the ball with the bat close to the body. This makes it difficult to hit the ball freely and score runs, especially on the off side. Since a leg theory attack means the batsman is more likely to hit the ball on the leg side, additional fielders on that side of the field can be effective in preventing runs and taking catches. In the sport of cricket, the term stump has three different meanings: part of the wicket, a manner of dismissing a batsman, and the end of the days play (stumps). Part of the wicket The stumps are three vertical posts supporting the bails to form a wicket at each... Fielding in the sport of cricket is what fielders do to collect the ball when it is struck by the batsman in such a way as to either limit the number of runs that the batsman scores or get the batsman out by catching the ball or running the batsman... The leg side, or on side, is defined to be a particular half of the field used to play the sport of cricket. ... Cricket batsman A batsman in the sport of cricket is, depending on context: Any player in the act of batting. ... Cricket ball A cricket ball is a hard, solid ball used to play cricket. ... The front of a cricket bat, showing the names for the different parts of the bat A cricket bat is used by the batsmen in the sport of cricket. ... For usage in other sports, see offside rule. ...

Stifling the batsman in this manner can lead to impatience and frustration, resulting in rash play by the batsman which in turn can lead to his dismissal.

Leg theory can be a moderately successful tactic when used with both fast bowling and spin bowling, particularly leg spin to right-handed batsmen or off spin to left-handed batsmen. However, because it relies on lack of concentration or discipline by the batsman, it can be risky against patient and skilled players, especially batsmen who are strong on the leg side. The English opening bowlers Sydney Barnes and Frank Foster used leg theory with some success in Australia in 1911-12. In England, at around the same time Fred Root was one of the main proponents of the same tactic. Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. ... Spin bowling, sometimes known as slow bowling, is a technique used for bowling in the sport of cricket. ... Leg spin is a type of spin bowling in the sport of cricket. ... Off spin is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket which is bowled by an off spinner, a right-handed spin bowler who uses his fingers to spin the ball from a right-handed batsmans off side to the leg side (that is, towards the right-handed... Sydney Francis Barnes was one of the finest bowlers in cricket history. ... This article is about the cricketer. ... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Concentrating attack on the leg stump is considered by many cricket fans and commentators to lead to boring play, as it stifles run scoring and encourages batsmen to play conservatively.

Fast leg theory

Main article: Bodyline

In 1930, England captain Douglas Jardine, together with Nottinghamshire's captain Arthur Carr and his bowlers Harold Larwood and Bill Voce, developed a variant of leg theory in which the bowlers bowled fast, short-pitched balls that would rise into the batsman's body, together with a heavily stacked ring of close fielders on the leg side. The idea was that when the batsman defended against the ball, he would be likely to deflect the ball into the air for a catch. Bill Woodfull evades a Bodyline ball. ... 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link is to a full 1930 calendar). ... The logo of the England Cricket Team which shows the three Lions of England below a five-pointed crown The England cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales, operating under the auspices of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). ... Douglas Robert Jardine (23 October 1900, Bombay - 18 June 1958, Montreux) was a British cricketer and captain of the controversial 1932-33 Bodyline tour of Australia. ... Nottinghamshire (abbreviated Notts) is an English county in the East Midlands, which borders South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire. ... Arthur William Carr (21 May 1893, Mickleham, Surrey, England - 7 February 1963, West Witton, Yorkshire) was an English cricket player. ... Harold Larwood (November 14, 1904 - July 22, 1995) was an English cricket player, an extremely quick and accurate fast bowler best known for his key role as the implementer of fast leg theory in the infamous Bodyline Ashes Test series of 1932-33. ... Bill Voce (8 August 1909, Annesley Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire, England - 6 June 1984, Lenton, Nottinghamshire) was an English cricket player. ...

Jardine called this modified form of the tactic fast leg theory. On the 1932-33 English tour of Australia, Larwood and Voce bowled fast leg theory at the Australian batsmen. It turned out to be extremely dangerous, and most Australian players sustained injuries from being hit by the ball. Wicket-keeper Bert Oldfield's skull was fractured by a ball hitting his head, almost precipitating a riot by the Australian crowd. A wicket keeper in characteristic position, ready to face a delivery. ... William Albert Stanley Bert Oldfield (9 September 1894, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia - 10 August 1976, Sydney, New South Wales) was an Australian cricket player. ...

For the sake of accuracy it is worth noting that Oldfield admitted his skull was injured due to his own error of misjudging a normal (ie non-leg theory) ball. The ball that struck Woodfull over the heart was also a normally pitched ball.

The Australian press dubbed the tactic Bodyline, and claimed it was a deliberate attempt by the English team to intimidate and injure the Australian players. Reports of the controversy reaching England at the time described the bowling as fast leg theory, which sounded to many people to be a harmless and well-established tactic. This led to a serious misunderstanding amongst the English public and the Marylebone Cricket Club - the administrators of English cricket - of the dangers posed by Bodyline. The English press and cricket authorities declared the Australian protests to be a case of sore losing and "squealing". Lords 2005 The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), founded in 1787, is a private members club and was the original governing body of cricket in England and across the world. ...

It was only with the return of the English team and the subsequent use of Bodyline against English players in England by the touring West Indian cricket team in 1933 that demonstrated to the country the dangers it posed. The MCC subsequently revised the Laws of Cricket to prevent the use of fast leg theory/Bodyline tactics again. Learie Constantine, was one of the first great West Indian players. ... 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The laws of cricket are a set of rules framed by the Marylebone Cricket Club which serve to standardise the format of cricket matches across the world to ensure uniformity and fairness. ...

See also

• Bodyline
• Off theory