Cricket has undergone a breathtaking metamorphosis since the very first Men’s Cricket World Cup, in 1975, in which the West Indies were crowned champions. Over those years, cricket has seen innovative, game-changing batting shots like the Scoop, Reverse Sweep, and Helicopter Shot, and innovative, game-changing bowling balls, like the Doosra, Carrom Ball, and Knuckle Ball.
But before these modern tactics, cricket saw one of its earliest innovations, round-arm bowling, and interestingly enough, its beginnings are credited to the work of a female cricketer.
What is Round Arm Bowling in Cricket?
All bowling in cricket was done underarm before the 19th century, placing limits on speed and bounce. Round-arm bowling – the arm straight out from the body and horizontal – allowed bowlers to produce greater pace, bounce, and variation for bowlers, changing the face of the game.
Cristiana Willes: The Woman Behind Round Arm Bowling
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The Origin Story
In the early 1800s, cricket was played mostly in England, and the rules primarily allowed for bowling underarm. Cristiana Willes had trouble bowling underarm with her arms moving freely and being constrained by the long skirts that were the traditional attire of women.
She began using a round-arm action, which progressed into a method in which her arm was lifted in the air away from her body. Ultimately, this action offered a much larger range of movement and control to the arm while she bowled.
Bowling to Her Brother
Cristiana was experimenting with her brother, John Willes, who was a player in the Kent County Cricket Club.
John Willes took up the round-arm style during a proper match, impressed by the new bowling from his sister.
The Match That Changed It All: 15 July 1822
Kent played MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) on 15 July 1822 when John Willes bowled with the round-arm method in a match. This new style stirred the interest of spectators, officials recognised it, it was controversial, and eventually became known as legal round-arm bowling.
Women’s Contribution to Cricket Development
The round-arm bowling invention is a historical account of women’s input to cricket, long before women opened up professional cricket.
Did You Know?
The Women’s World Cup was first held in 1973, two years earlier than the Men’s World Cup.
England took the first Women’s World Cup, showing the world that women have been leaders of the game all along.
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Not only did they show us how to do it first with round-arm bowling, but they have also guided international competitions.
Cricket World Cup Winners
1975 Men’s World Cup Winner: West Indies won the final against Australia.
1973 Women’s World Cup Winner: England won, which marked the beginning of a revolution in women’s cricket.
A Woman’s Legacy in a Gentleman’s Game
The development of round-arm bowling was not merely a technical change in cricket but also a metaphor of innovation fueled by necessity and cleverness. Cristiana Willes, by the practical application of a solution to a dress restraint, introduced a style of bowling that would revolutionize the sport for all eternity.
In addition, the initial success of the Women’s World Cup and efforts such as these highlight the undeniable role of women in the development of cricket, both technically and competitively.
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