Cricket is full of fascinating tricks and techniques, but few deliveries have puzzled batsmen as much as the googly. This deceptive ball, bowled by leg-spinners to surprise and outsmart the opponent, has a rich history rooted in the early 1900s. Many fans often wonder, “In which country was the googly invented?” The answer takes us back to England, where it was first introduced by B.J.T. Bosanquet, forever changing the art of spin bowling.
What is a Googly in Cricket?
A googly is a tricky ball in cricket that is bowled by a leg-spinner. To the batsman, it looks exactly like a usual leg-spin ball, but the result is not the same. Instead of spinning away from the batsman, it moves inside towards the stumps. Because it looks normal at first, the batsman often gets fooled and plays the wrong shot. That is why the googly is called a surprise delivery and is one of the most useful tricks in cricket.
In Which Country Was the Googly Invented?
The googly was invented in England in the early 1900s. It was first bowled by B.J.T. Bosanquet, who was trying new ways of spin bowling. At first, he used it as a fun experiment, but soon it became a clever trick that confused batsmen. Because of this, England is known as the country where the googly was born, and later many other bowlers around the world started using it.
History of the Googly in Cricket
| Time / Era | Country | Key Player(s) | Contribution to Googly |
| Early 1900s | England | B.J.T. Bosanquet | Invented the googly and introduced it in cricket. |
| Mid 1900s | England | Various English bowlers | Spread the use of the googly in county and international matches. |
| 1950s–1970s | India | Subhash Gupte, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar | Made the googly popular in Indian cricket. |
| 1970s–1990s | Pakistan | Abdul Qadir | Known as the “Master of Googly,” revived leg-spin bowling. |
| 1990s–2000s | Australia | Shane Warne | Used googly and variations to dominate world cricket. |
| Modern Era (2000s–Now) | Worldwide | Anil Kumble, Yasir Shah, Rashid Khan | Kept the googly alive as an important spin weapon. |
The googly was first bowled in England by B.J.T. Bosanquet around the year 1900. He was a leg-spin bowler who loved trying new things in practice. While experimenting, he discovered a way to release the ball so that it looked like a normal leg-spin delivery but actually turned the opposite way. This small discovery changed the game forever.
At first, many batsmen had no idea how to play the googly. They thought it was a normal spin ball, but it surprised them by moving inside instead of outside. This made Bosanquet very successful, and soon other bowlers in England also started learning it.
As cricket spread, the googly became popular in other countries too. In India and Pakistan, many spinners like Subhash Gupte, Anil Kumble, and Abdul Qadir made it a deadly weapon. Abdul Qadir from Pakistan was even called the “master of googly” because he bowled it so well. Later, bowlers like Shane Warne from Australia also used it to confuse the best batsmen in the world.
Over time, the googly became a part of cricket’s history and tradition. Even today, young leg-spinners learn the googly as one of their most important skills. It is not just a delivery—it is a smart trick that shows how creative and clever cricket can be.
The Role of Googly in Modern Cricket
The googly plays a big role in modern cricket. It helps spinners stay one step ahead of batsmen. In short formats like T20, it is used to stop fast scoring. Bowlers mix it with normal spin so the batsman cannot predict the ball. Stars like Yasir Shah and Rashid Khan have made the googly a deadly weapon in today’s cricket.
Read More: Fastest 1000 Runs in Test
Famous Bowlers Known for Bowling Googly
Over the years, many great spinners have become famous for their skill with the googly. Each of them used it in a unique way to trouble batsmen and win matches for their team. From early cricket to the modern T20 era, the googly has remained a special weapon in their bowling.
| Bowler | Country | Specialty with Googly |
| B.J.T. Bosanquet | England | Invented the googly in early 1900s. |
| Subhash Gupte | India | Known for sharp spin and googlies in Tests. |
| Abdul Qadir | Pakistan | Called the “Master of Googly,” revived leg-spin. |
| Anil Kumble | India | Mixed googlies with his fast, accurate bowling. |
| Shane Warne | Australia | Used googly as part of his magical spin variations. |
| Yasir Shah | Pakistan | Troubled Test batsmen with smart googlies. |
| Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | Famous for quick, hard-to-read googlies in T20s. |
Final Words
Born in England through the experiments of B.J.T. Bosanquet has grown into one of the most loved and feared balls in the game. From legends like Abdul Qadir and Shane Warne to modern stars like Rashid Khan, the googly has kept its charm for over a century.
Even today, when cricket is faster and batsmen are stronger, the googly still proves that smart bowling can outthink even the best players. It remains a delivery that brings excitement to fans and challenges to batsmen.
FAQs on Googly in Cricket
Q1. In which country was the googly invented?
The googly was invented in England in the early 1900s by B.J.T. Bosanquet.
Q2. Who is called the master of googly?
Abdul Qadir from Pakistan is often called the “Master of Googly” because of his amazing skill with this delivery.
Q3. Googly ball kis country mein invent hui thi?
Googly ball England mein invent hui thi. Ye sabse pehle B.J.T. Bosanquet ne khel mein introduce ki thi.
Q4. Which modern bowlers are famous for bowling googly?
Modern bowlers like Rashid Khan, Yasir Shah, and Adil Rashid are well known for their googlies in T20 and Test cricket.
Q5. Why is the googly difficult to play?
It looks like a normal leg-spin ball, but it turns in the opposite direction, which often confuses batsmen.
