Left-arm Unorthodox Spin

Left-arm unorthodox spin, or chinaman, is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket using the hand wrist.

Left-arm unorthodox spin bowlers use a wrist hand action to spin the ball which turns from off to leg side of the cricket pitch. The direction of turn is the same as that of a traditional right-handed off spin bowler; however, the ball will usually turn more sharply due to the spin being imparted predominantly by the wrist. Some left-arm unorthodox bowlers bowl a leg spinner's "googly" (or "wrong'un"), which turns from right to left on the cricket pitch. The ball turns away from the batsman, as if the bowler were an orthodox left-arm spinner.

The left-arm unorthodox bowling action is bowled in common with a leg spin or leg break. Very few highly skilled left-arm wrist spinners have played at the international Test level. The South African Paul Adams, known for his unusual bowling action, is perhaps one of the best-known left-arm wrist spinners. Another notable wrist spinner is Michael Bevan from Australia, who was known for his speed and bounce. Others include Brad Hogg, Garfield Sobers and Dave Mohammed of the West Indies.