In Which Country Was the Googly Invented? A Deep Dive into Cricket’s Smartest Delivery

In cricket’s 150+ year evolution, few deliveries have had the impact of the googly — a deceptive, wrist-spun ball that has baffled batters for over a century.

But where was the googly invented?
Who came up with it, and why does it still matter in today’s T20 era?

This blog breaks down the full history, from its English roots to its modern mastery by bowlers worldwide.

The Googly Was Invented in England

The googly was first developed in England by Bernard Bosanquet, an English leg-spinner, between 1897 and 1900. It was first used in a first-class match in 1900, and later perfected during the 1903–04 Ashes tour.

According to ESPNcricinfo, Bosanquet introduced the googly after experimenting with spinning a tennis ball, creating a delivery that turned the opposite way to a standard leg break.

Let's learn more about Bosanquet and how this delivery came to be.

Who Was Bernard Bosanquet? The Inventor of the Googly

• Born in 1877 in England
• Played for Middlesex and England national team
• Credited with inventing the googly and making it match-viable
• Used it extensively during the 1903–04 Ashes tour in Australia

His profile and contribution to cricket are detailed in Wisden Almanack (DA: 91), confirming that while Bosanquet wasn’t a legendary spinner overall, the googly remains his lasting contribution to the sport.

Let’s break down how the googly came into existence.

How Was the Googly Invented? The Story Behind the Delivery

Bosanquet developed the googly while playing a casual game called “Twisti-Twosti” with friends. This involved spinning a tennis ball on a table so it bounced unpredictably. He realized the same principle could apply to a cricket ball.

He introduced it in county cricket in 1900, and its first major public exposure came during the 1903–04 Ashes series.

For deeper reading on this period, you can see the Britannica entry on googly in cricket.

Now let’s clarify what exactly a googly is.

What Is a Googly in Cricket? Definition and Mechanics

A googly is a type of delivery bowled by a leg-spinner that appears to turn away from the batter, like a standard leg break, but actually turns inward — the opposite direction.

• Requires precise wrist rotation and grip
• Often deceives right-handed batters, expecting the ball to spin away
• Known as the “wrong’un” in South Asian cricketing slang

The ICC explains that mastering the googly gives a wrist-spinner a serious tactical edge, especially in white-ball cricket.

Let’s talk about what makes it so effective.

Why Is the Googly So Effective in Cricket?

The power of the googly lies in disguise. It looks like a conventional leg-spin delivery but behaves completely differently upon bouncing.

Benefits include:

• Trapping batters LBW or bowled when misreading the spin
• Confusing even seasoned pros when mixed into an over
• Making batters question their footwork and shot selection

In modern formats like IPL and T20 Internationals, a well-timed googly can break partnerships quickly, as the batter has almost no time to read the wrist angle.

But how did it change the way spin bowling is approached?

The Impact of the Googly on Spin Bowling Techniques

Before the googly, spin was mostly predictable — off-spin and leg-spin followed readable lines. The googly introduced deception into the art of bowling.

Its success later inspired:

• The doosra (off-spinner’s googly)
• The flipper (backspin variation)
• The slider (disguised under-spin)
• The carrom ball (finger flicked variation)

The ICC’s spin bowling evolution guide (link) documents how these deliveries owe part of their existence to Bosanquet’s original invention.

Now let’s explore how the googly spread across cricket-playing nations.

How the Googly Spread Globally: From England to the World

Once introduced in England, the googly quickly influenced spin bowling internationally:

• Australia embraced it during and after the Ashes
• India developed elite leg-spinners using the googly as a base
• Pakistan revolutionized it with mystery and aggression in the 1980s
• South Africa and Afghanistan refined it for white-ball formats

Each region adapted it to its own bowling philosophy. A detailed country-by-country breakdown follows.

Famous Googly Bowlers in Cricket History

Let’s now correct a few common myths about the googly.

Myths and Misconceptions About the Googly

“The googly was invented in India.”

No. India perfected it, but it was invented in England.

“The googly and doosra are the same.”

Wrong. The googly is for leg-spinners; the doosra is for off-spinners.

“Googlies don’t work in T20s.”

In fact, they’re more effective than ever due to better impatience and reduced time to read deliveries.

Speaking of formats, how does the googly work in modern-day cricket?

The Role of the Googly in Modern Cricket Formats

In T20s, ODIs, and even The Hundred:

• Googlies are used to disrupt rhythm
• Perfect against batters looking to accelerate
• Often used as a “surprise” ball in the powerplay or death overs

Modern-day bowlers like Rashid Khan, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Shadab Khan have made the googly their primary weapon.

Can bowlers still invent new deliveries after the googly?

Are New Cricket Deliveries Still Being Invented Today?

Yes. The googly sparked a culture of experimentation in spin bowling. New deliveries include:

• Carrom Ball – Invented by Ajantha Mendis
• Knuckleball – Used by pacers to deceive with a slower speed
• Slower bouncers, back-of-the-hand deliveries, and more

But none have had the foundational impact of the googly.

Let’s wrap this up with the key takeaway.

Final Recap: Where Was the Googly Invented and Why It Still Matters

• Country of origin: England
• Inventor: Bernard Bosanquet
• First used: Middlesex, 1900
• Global influence: Massive — used in every major cricket format today

The googly wasn’t just a delivery — it was the beginning of cricket’s evolution into a mental chess match. Over 120 years later, it’s still going strong.