Our Top 10 Most Bizarre Bowling Actions Of All Time

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Talent Cricket's Top Ten Most Bizarre Bowling Actions Of All Time

There have been many strange bowling actions to have graced the first class and test arena's over the years, here is our top 10.

• 10 - CHRIS HARRIS

Chris Harris played numerous times for New Zealand between 1990 and 2004. He bowled his slow medium wobblers off the wrong foot with the majority of deliveries coming out of the back of the hand as leg breaks. Although his test and first class bowling record wasn't great he took over 200 ODI wickets with an impressive economy rate of just over 4 runs per over.

• 9 - GRAHAM DILLEY

Graham Dilley had great success as a bowler during the 80's and early 90's. When everything 'clicked' in his slightly ugly chest on chest on action that incorporated a large exaggerated drag of the back foot he bowled with genuine pace. Dilley would have taken many more than his 138 test wickets if he wouldn't have beeb beset with injuries caused by his unusual action.

• 8 - JEFF THOMPSON

Thommo is the first of our 'slingers'. During the early part of his career in the early 70's Thommo was the quickest bowler in the world having been clocked at 99mph. He developed his pace from his slingshot action which eventually put tremendous pressure on his body, in particular his right shoulder and he was forced to modify his style to bowl more cutters. Thommo however finished his test career with 200 wickets at 28 and the reputation of being one of the most devestating bowlers ever seen on his day.

• 7 - LANCE CAIRNS

Lance Cairns came from a small hamlet in New Zealand and had no idea that his exaggerated 'wrong footed' bowling action was unusual. Cairns delivered the ball with good pace and his action enabled him to bowl huge inswinging deliveries. Lance Cairns had a good test bowling career with 130 wicket at a shade under 33 runs per wicket.

• 6 - MIKE PROCTOR

Procky was arguably the best unorthodox bowler of all time. His action was similar to Lance Cairns with his exocet deliveries being propelled off the wrong foot and at his best he seemed to possess the ability to bowl 90+ mph inswinging yorkers at will. Proctor was limited to only 7 test appearances due to South Africa's isolation in the 70's, but over 1400 first class wicket at an average of under 20 suggests he would have been one of the worlds greats.

• 5 - SOHAIL TANVIR

Sohail Tanvir is the first of selections that is currently still playing. What makes Tanvir's action so bizarre in our eyes is the fact that he bowls from the wrong foot with his left arm. This makes hi styly very similar to both Proctor, Cairns and Harris but the fact it is bowled by a left armer gives him the edge for us. Tanvir currently 61 ODI wickets at 33 per wicket.

• 4 - LASITH MALINGA

Lasith Malinga has a slingy action similar to Jeff Thompson, the difference however that makes Malinga so affective in the modern limited overs formats are that he delivers the ball round arm with the point of delivery being just above his waist. This makes not only his pace but picking up the trajectory of the ball and reverse swing his biggest weapon. At present malings has over 100 test wickets, and over 200 ODI and T20 wickets.

• 3- ALAN 'FROGGY' THOMPSON

Alan Thompson is a name that most people will be unfamiliar with but his run up and delivery action where someone once described it as 'bowling off his front leg like a frog in a windmill' had to be seen to be believed, hence the nickname. Alan Thompson played only 5 international matches for Australia but his utterly bizarre action makes it into our top 3.

• 2 - JACK SHANTRY

This is another name that many overseas readers will be unfamiliar with. Jack Shantry however currently plays first class cricket for Worcestershire and bowls succesfully off the wrong foot with his head bowed towards the popping crease at the point of delivery. Shantry could go on and play T20 or ODI cricket internationally but his lack of pace would indicate he may never play test cricket.

• 1 - PAUL ADAMS

Paul 'Gogga' Adams was a left arm 'Chinaman' bowler who took 134 test wickets for South Africa during the 1990's. Never in the history of the game could one person's bowling action have created so much interest amongst spectators and players alike. Mike Gatting once likened Adam's unorthodox action to 'a frog in a blender', his head was pointed under his left arm at the point of delivery and he held the ball between only his thumb and index finger on his left hand. Never again are we likely to see a repetition of this truely bizarre action at the highest level.