Off Break

A right-arm finger-spinner's stock ball that turns from off to leg for a right-hander, generated by ripping the index and middle finger across the seam.

'Off-break' names the ball that breaks from the off side toward the leg side for a right-hand batter.

Finger- and wrist-spin have been part of cricket since the 18th century; over-arm spin was legalised in 1864, and the ICC's 15° flex tolerance (2005) modernised its regulation.

Intermediate — accessible technique with a steep accuracy curve in match conditions.

Index and middle fingers spread across the seam, ball cocked into the base of the thumb; the index finger does most of the work at release.

Wrist firm, slightly cocked; arm pulls down the line of off stump with a vertical seam.

1,800–2,400 RPM with side-spin tilted 70–80° from vertical produces drift in flight and turn off the seam.

To right-handers, target a 4–6 m length outside off stump and bowl for the outside edge or LBW going across; to left-handers it's a stock wicket-taker into the pads (Ashwin vs Warner).

Pushing the ball with the palm kills revs — drill the door-knob wrist with a tennis ball; landing zone scoring (1m × 1m squares) builds the stock length.