Carrom Ball

A finger-flick delivery (Iverson, Mendis, Ashwin, Sundar) that can turn either way depending on the flick direction, released between a bent middle finger and the thumb like a carrom striker.

Named after the carrom board — the ball is flicked out with a bent middle finger, mimicking the striker flick used in the tabletop game.

Popularised in Test cricket by Sri Lanka's Ajantha Mendis (2008) and later mastered by India's R. Ashwin as a T20 wicket-taking option.

Advanced — high-skill ceiling, requires drilled repetition and biomechanical screening before match use.

Ball pinched between thumb and bent middle finger; index finger rests on top for guidance.

A sharp flick of the middle finger gives top-spin / off-spin / leg-spin depending on flick orientation; seam is tilted forward.

1,500–1,900 RPM with a near-vertical spin axis — produces dip more than sharp turn, deceiving batters into early commitment.

Devastating from a fingerspinner's stock spell as a one-off surprise; vary it in 1-in-10 deliveries to keep wicket value high.

Releasing with a stiff wrist — the flick must be relaxed, the middle finger snapping like a carrom shot. Train by flicking table-tennis balls into a target before transitioning to a cricket ball.