In cricket, roundarm bowling is a style that was introduced in the early years of the 19th century to supercede underarm bowling. It became obsolete after 1864 when the current style of overarm bowling was legalised, although the world's most famous cricketer W G Grace continued to use it to the end of his career. A professional cricket match In the sport of cricket, bowling is the action of propelling the ball towards the batsman. ... In cricket, at the start of an innings the bowling team opens its bowling by using their pace bowlers first. ... Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. ... Seam bowling is a technique used for bowling in the sport of cricket. ... Swing bowling is a technique used for bowling in the sport of cricket. ... Spin bowling, sometimes known as slow bowling, is a technique used for bowling in the sport of cricket. ... In the sport of cricket, left-arm orthodox spin is the equivalent of off spin bowling, but bowled with the left hand. ... A left-arm unorthodox spin, more commonly known as a slow left-arm Chinaman (SLC), is a type of delivery used in cricket by a left arm bowler. ... Leg spin is a type of spin bowling used in cricket. ... Off spin is a type of spin bowling in the sport of cricket which is bowled by an off spinner and refers to a right-handed spin bowler who uses his fingers to spin the ball from a right-handed batsmans off side towards the leg side (that is... Finger spin is a style of bowling in the sport of cricket. ... Wrist spin is a style of bowling in the sport of cricket. ... A delivery in cricket is simply the bowling of a ball towards the batsman, performed by a designated bowler as part of their over. ... An arm ball is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. ... For other uses, see Bouncer (disambiguation). ... A doosra is a particular type of delivery by an off spin bowler in the sport of cricket. ... Hi Waller. ... A full toss is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. ... A beamer in cricket terminology is a type of delivery in which the ball, without bouncing, passes dangerously close to the batsmans head. ... In cricket, a googly is a type of delivery bowled by a leg spin bowler. ... In cricket, an indipper is a delivery that curves into a right-handed batsman before the ball pitches (bounces on the pitch). ... An inswinger is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. ... A leg break is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. ... A leg cutter is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. ... An off break is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. ... An off cutter is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. ... The slower ball is a delivery in the sport of cricket which is delivered by fast bowlers. ... In cricket, a topspinner is a delivery where the ball comes out the top of the bowlers hand, causing it to spin in the direction of travel. ... In cricket, a yorker is a delivery where the cricket ball bounces on the cricket pitch on or near the batsmans popping crease. ... In the sport of cricket, an underarm delivery is a ball bowled by a bowler to a batsman in which the bowlers arm does not rise above the level of the shoulder. ... In cricket, overarm bowling refers to a delivery in which the bowlers hand is above shoulder height. ... A cricket match in progress. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... In the sport of cricket, an underarm delivery is a ball bowled by a bowler to a batsman in which the bowlers arm does not rise above the level of the shoulder. ... 1864 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... In cricket, overarm bowling refers to a delivery in which the bowlers hand is above shoulder height. ... William Gilbert Grace (July 18, 1848–October 23, 1915) was an English cricketer who, by his extraordinary skills, made cricket perhaps the first modern spectator sport, and who developed most of the techniques of modern batting. ...

The spread of roundarm in the 1820s was a natural reaction to the growing predominance of batsmen over the age-old underarm style of bowling. Its adherents argued that the legalisation of roundarm was essential to restore the balance between batting and bowling. However, high-scoring matches were still comparatively rare owing to vagaries in pitch conditions.

The idea of roundarm is traditionally attributed to Christina Willes, sister of Kent cricketer John Willes. The story goes that when bowling to her brother in the garden at home, Miss Willes found herself inconvenienced by her large, lead-weighted dress which prevented her from performing the underarm action. Elevating the arm to just above waist height, she was able to deliver the ball without interference from her attire.

In fact, roundarm had a more plausible origin. It was actually devised in the 1790s by the wily Tom Walker, known as Old Everlasting. Walker was a famous opening batsman who had a solid defensive technique and was notoriously difficult to dismiss. He was also a more than useful bowler who was always looking for ways to improvise. Legend has it that he and some of his fellow players in the "Hambledon Era" used to practice in a barn during the winters. Walker worked out that he could generate more bounce and variation of pace if he bowled with his arm away from his body and soon realised that these deliveries gave the batsman added problems. He tried to use the style in major matches but was no-balled and had to return to his usual underarm lobs, with which he was by no means unsuccessful.

Whatever the origin, John Willes realised that the pace and bounce generated by this raised arm action made the delivery potentially more difficult to play than a conventional underarm one and so he adopted the style himself with his arm coming through at shoulder height. He tried, without success, to have it accepted in major cricket.

The matter was controversial enough for a law to be introduced in 1816 into the Laws of Cricket to prohibit roundarm: The ball must be bowled (not thrown or jerked), and be delivered underhand, with the hand below the elbow. But if the ball be jerked, or the arm extended from the body horizontally, and any part of the hand be uppermost, or the hand horizontally extended when the ball is delivered, the Umpires shall call "No Ball".

On 15 July 1822, in the MCC v Kent match at Lord’s, Willes opened the bowling for Kent and was promptly no-balled for using his roundarm action. He had been trying at various times to introduce the style since 1807. Being no-balled on this occasion was the final straw for Willes reportedly threw the ball away and withdrew from the match, literally going straight to his horse and riding away. He refused to play again in any important fixture.

Although Willes had quit the game, he had made his point and others were willing to pick his ball up and persevere. In 1826, Sussex had the best team in England and were acclaimed as the "Champion County" in some quarters. Their success owed much to the prowess of two top-class bowlers William Lillywhite and Jem Broadbridge, both of whom were champions of the roundarm style, when they could get away with it. Lillywhite was one of the all-time great bowlers and was nicknamed "the Nonpareil". 1826 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1827, to test the validity of roundarm bowling, three England v Sussex trial matches were arranged, but no immediate decision was made about legalisation. Lillywhite and Broadbridge used roundarm to great effect against the England batsmen who made loud objections. 1827 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

But the batsmen were losing the argument. In 1828, following the Sussex v England roundarm trials, MCC modified Rule 10 to permit the bowler’s hand to be raised as high as the elbow. Lillywhite, Broadbridge and their supporters continued to bowl at shoulder height and the umpires didn’t no-ball them. 1828 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

By 1835, powerless to prevent the use of roundarm, MCC finally amended the Laws of Cricket to make it legal. The relevant part of the Law stated: if the hand be above the shoulder in the delivery, the umpire must call "No Ball". It wasn't long before bowlers’ hands started to go above the shoulder and the 1835 Law had to be reinforced in 1845 by removing benefit of the doubt from the bowler in the matter of his hand’s height when delivering the ball. 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Although underarm bowlers did not fade away, roundarm became the predominant style until another controversy erupted about overarm in 1864. Prominent roundarm bowlers to succeed Lillywhite and Broadbridge were Alfred Mynn, John Jackson and W G Grace. 1864 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... William Gilbert Grace (July 18, 1848–October 23, 1915) was an English cricketer who, by his extraordinary skills, made cricket perhaps the first modern spectator sport, and who developed most of the techniques of modern batting. ...