Leg Spin vs Off Spin: a Stunning Analysis

It is not an easier task to find out a comparative effectiveness between leg spin and off spin in all format of crickets . Even an effort to prepare a report using available data can’t establish an undisputed supremacy of either type.

Difference between Off Spin and Leg Spin

In general, leg spin is considered to be more challenging to play. But a generalized concept must be examined with the records.

When a right-handed spinner spins the ball from the off side to the leg side of a right-handed batsman, it is referred to as off spin. On the other hand, if a left-handed off spinner does the same, it is termed as left arm orthodox.If the ball turns from leg to off, it is classified as leg spin. Typically, off spinners are finger spinners, while leg spinners are known as wrist spinners.

Success rate of two different kind of spins may be worthful to justify the effectiveness.

Leg Spin vs Off Spin in 300 Wicket Club in Test

Only 37 bowlers have managed to achieve 300 wickets in Test matches to date. Out of those 37, there are only 9 spinners.

The list shows an off-spinner holds the top position on the list! An aspiring off spinner should commence expressing their support after going through the list. However, it is imperative to acquire further knowledge in order to ascertain the utmost dominance in terms of effectiveness on the cricket field.

Cricket history says Fred Trueman was the first bowler to reach 300 Test wickets. English fast bowler Fred Trueman achieved this milestone in 1964. Trueman’s record remained unbroken for the next 10 years.But at last an off spinner touched Trueman’s feat and broke the record of highest wicket taking in Test Cricket. Have you ever heard of Lans Gibbs’s name?

Lance Gibbs- An Astonishing Off Spinner

However, in 1975, West Indian off spinner Lance Gibbs became the second bowler to achieve 300 wickets in Test matches. By dismissing Australian batsman Gary Gilmore in Perth, Gibbs secured his place in the 300 club. Later on, Gibbs became the highest wicket taker in the history of cricket. Gibbs success must have inspired the contemporary youngsters to accept the usefulness of off spin in the discussion of Leg Spin vs Off Spin.

However, within the subsequent two decades, no spinner managed to attain the remarkable milestone of 300 wickets. But before the advent of new millennium an Australian Leg Spinner acquired this achievement. Yes, he was none other than Shane Warne.

Shane Warne – The Greatest Leg-Spinner of The History

On the 5th of January, 1998, Shane Warne, etched his name in the annals of history as the thirteenth bowler and the first leg spinner ever to achieve the feat of claiming 300 Test wickets. This historic moment transpired when Warne’s leg-break skillfully evaded the defense of Jacques Kallis and struck the wicket.

Warne’s accomplishment ascended to even greater heights when he became the first bowler in the chronicles of cricket to claim a staggering 600 test wickets in the year 2005. Warne created this unbelievable record by dismissing English batsman Marcus Trescothik.

In the year 2006, Warne once again created history by reaching the milestone of 700 wickets in Test matches against England. He achieved this remarkable feat by dismissing Andrew Strauss in the 2006/07 Ashes Series on his home turf.

It was beyond anyone’s belief that this extraordinary record would eventually be surpassed in the future. The comparative analysis of Leg Spin vs Off Spin remains incomplete if a neck to neck competition between Warne and Sri Lankan off Spinner Murlitharan is not discussed.

Murali Vs Warne- Off Spin vs Leg Spin

But Warne was not alone. That period bore witness to a tacit competition between an illustrious leg spinner and an unparalleled off spinner of all time. The global community still holds vivid recollection of the ardent rivalry that ensued between these two extraordinary spin bowlers.

However, in 2007, Muralitharan not only achieved the remarkable feat of reaching 700 wickets but also claimed the title of the highest wicket taker.

Similar to Warne, Muralitharan opted to face the England team in order to establish his record. By dismissing Paul Collingwood, Muralitharan solidified his position as the highest wicket taker in the world. Muralitharan successfully accomplished the seemingly impossible task of taking his 800th wicket. At the conclusion of his career, Muralitharan surpassed Warne by 92 wickets but played 12 fewer tests.

Warne vs Muralitharan in Test

The chart itself declares more on-field effectiveness of the legendary Off-spinner than his arch rival. Keeping Murlitharan in front, the fans can cheer the victory of off spin in the on-paper analysis of Leg Spin vs Off Spin.

Warne-Murlitharan rivalry is one of the most palatable content of discussion. But there is a third and common rival of these two legends. How can one forget Anil Kumble?

Anil Kumble

In the race for taking wickets during the era of Murli and Warne, there was another leg spinner. The impact of the legendary Indian leg spinner, Anil Kumble, was no less than those two great spinners. With 619 test wickets, Kumble is still the leading wicket taker for India. He is the only leg spinner, other than Warne, in the prestigious list of 300 Test Wicket Takers.

Quickest 300 Wicket in Test

Ravichandran Aswin is the fastest to reach 300 wickets in Test cricket. The Indian off-spinner achieved this remarkable feat in only 54 tests. Shane Warne, on the other hand, took 9 tests more to reach the milestone, making him the quickest among leg-spinners. There is also another aspect where Aswin surpassed both Kumble and Warne. He is the second top most player of the tournament winner. The list of Player of the tournament award in Test gives a clear picture of more effectiveness of off spinners.

Best Performance in an Innings of Test

Only three bowlers have managed to take all 10 wickets in an innings to date. Surprisingly, all three of them were spinners. English off spinner Jim Laker achieved this feat against Australia in 1956.

43 years later, Anil Kumble of India replicated the achievement against arch rival Pakistan with his magical leg spin.In 2021, left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel of New Zealand emulated the records set by Laker and Kumble by taking 10 wickets in a test match against India.

The conclusion clearly highlights the superiority of off spinners over leg spinners in Test cricket. Among the nine spinners in the 300 wicket club, seven of them are off spinners, with an off spinner leading the list. The quickest to reach 300 wickets is also an off spinner.

Furthermore, two out of the three best performers in a single Test innings are off spinners. The achievements of off spinners in Test cricket are unquestionably far superior to the leg spinners. At least performance of in the Test Cricket anounces a clean win of Off Spinners in debate on usefulness of Leg Spin vs Off Spin.

Leg Spin vs Off Spin in 300 wicket clubs in One Day International

Only 14 bowlers claimed 300 wickets in ODI. But there is only five spinners in this list.

Like Test, Muralitharan leads the list of 300 wicket takers in one day,too. However, it was the legendary fast bowler of Pakistan, Wasim Akram, who was the first to achieve this feat in ODI. Akram still holds the second position, with no one surpassing him except for Muralitharan.

. Rivalry between Murlitharan and Warne is a well known topic of discussion. But there was no rivalry between those two legends in ODI. Murlitharan was miles ahead to Warne in ODI. Even Warne could manage only 293 wickets in his ODI career whereas Murli claimed 534. Kumble is second highest wicket taker spinner in ODI. But he also took only 337.Kumble’s success in ODI is remarkable because he is the only Leg Spinner who achieved this feat.

Fastest Spinner to reach this feat is also Muralitharan.In the realm of One Day cricket, Off Spinners also display their dominance. Anil Kumble stands as the only leg spinner to have accomplished this feat.

Leg Spin vs Off Spin in ODI World Cup

Muralitharan is the only spinner in the list of 10th highest Wicket takers in ODI World Cup. With 68 wickets in 40 matches, he ranks second, just behind Australian pace bowler Glen McGrath. Muralitharan’s performance surpasses that of his contemporaries, Warne and Kumble, in this regard.

However, Kumble and Warne have managed to outdo Muralitharan in one aspect. Muralitharan has never held the title of leading wicket taker in a World Cup. In 2007, he finished second on the list. On the other hand, Kumble claimed the title of highest wicket taker in the 1996 World Cup with 15 wickets, while Warne achieved the same feat in 1999 by taking 20 wickets.

Leg Spin vs Off Spin in T-20

In T-20 International cricket, no bowler has reached the milestone of 300 wickets. Only 10 bowlers have managed to claim 100 wickets, with six of them being spinners. Surprisingly, leg spinners have outperformed in the T-20 format. Among the elite list, there are only two off spinners, Sakib-al-Hasan and Mitchell Santner.

If performance is justified from records only, off Spinners have done far better. But if T-20 decides future of cricket, better time may be expected for the leg spinners.