This list celebrates the Top 10 Strangest Bowling Actions that not only baffled batsmen but also delivered world-class performances. These bowlers turned their unorthodox techniques into deadly weapons, proving that style doesn’t matter when you’re taking wickets.
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In cricket, there’s beauty in perfection — but sometimes, brilliance comes from the bizarre. Bowling actions are expected to be smooth, textbook, and rhythmic. Yet, some of the game’s most successful bowlers have had styles that looked strange, even wrong, to the eye. But here’s the twist — they worked, and how!
10. Sohail Tanvir (Pakistan)
Left-arm, wrong-footed, and side-arm — Tanvir’s action was one of the weirdest the cricket world had seen. But it worked wonders in T20S, especially in the IPL, where he won the Purple Cap in 2008 .
9. Jasprit Bumrah (India)
Short run-up, stuttering load-up, and an explosive release — Bumrah’s action is far from classical, yet he’s one of the best bowlers in all formats. His accuracy and awkward angles make him lethal.
8. Shivil Kaushik (India)
Nicknamed the “Indian Paul Adams,” Kaushik had a bizarre action with his head tucked into his shoulder. Though he had a short IPL career, his deliveries were unreadable and wild.
7. Paul Adams (South Africa)
The ultimate in weirdness. His “frog in a blender” action was ridiculed at first, but Adams took over 100 Test wickets and made batsmen guess every ball.Strangest
6. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)
While legal, Murali’s bent-arm action sparked global controversy. Yet with over 1300 international wickets, he proved that even the strangest-looking spin can be the deadliest.Strangest
5. Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)
Slingy, side-arm, almost touching the ground — Malinga’s action gave batsmen nightmares. His toe-crushers and pace variations made him one of the greatest T20 bowlers ever.
4. Kedar Jadhav (India)
Though a part-timer, his round-arm deliveries from waist height confused even the best. The awkward trajectory brought him surprise wickets in ODIs.Strangest
3. Michael Holding (West Indies)
Not strange in appearance, but his extremely smooth run-up and whisper-quiet delivery made it feel eerie, like a ghost gliding in. Batsmen found it unnerving and deadly.
2. Naved-ul-Hasan (Pakistan)
His arm came from wide and high, with a weirdly stiff release. It looked awkward but produced late movement and stump-rattling impact.
1. Abdul Qadir (Pakistan)
With a stop-start approach, jerky wrist action, and head fakes, Qadir looked like he was dancing toward the crease. But his googlies and leggies were magic — he revived spin bowling in the 80s.
Cricket often glorifies textbook technique, but these Strangest Bowling Actions remind us that being different can be deadly. Whether it’s a sling, a stutter, or a spin with a twist, these bowlers showed that success lies in what works,ot how it looks.
FAQ – Strangest Bowling Actions That Worked!
Q1: What makes a bowling action “strange” in cricket?
A bowling action is considered strange when it looks unorthodox, awkward, or non-traditional — often involving unusual arm movements, run-ups, or release styles.
Q2: Can strange bowling actions be effective?
Yes, many bowlers with strange actions have confused batters and found great success at the international and T20 levels. Their unpredictability becomes their strength.
Q3: Who has the weirdest bowling action in cricket history?
Paul Adams, with his “frog in a blender” action, is often cited as the bowler with the most unusual action ever seen in international cricket.