From: shamim@bellcore.com (Shamim Naqvi,MRE-2E342,829-4711,,21273)
Subject: Re: Chinese bowling
Reply-To: shamim@bellcore.com
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Morristown, NJ
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 92 16:44:00 GMT

In article 085627@is.morgan.com,  andyc@is.morgan.com (Andrew Coad) writes:
>In article <1992Nov19.193912.22753@walter.bellcore.com>, shamim@bellcore.com (Shamim Naqvi,MRE-2E342,829-4711,,21273) writes:
>	[stuff from Tony Begley deleted ....]
>|> 
>|> Wrong. Here is the correct interpretation. 
>|> 
>	[definitions deleted ....]
>|> 
>|> So in summary a chinaman is bowled exactly like a RH leg break delivery. 
>|> 
>|> --shamim
>|> 
>|> ---
>|> 	--SAN
>|> 
>
>Wrong. Here is the correct interpretation.
>And finally, the bottom line: "A chinaman is a left handed googly" tells us that
>a chinaman is an off-break with a leg-break action which means the ball moves
>RtoL but the batsman expects it to move LtoR (again, w.r.t. the bowler).
>AC

I deleted most of Andrew's article because I have already posted a comprehensive explanation 
of the difference between a Chinaman and a Googly. Basically the message shows that the 
Oxford English Dictionary, The Times, various authorities including Garfield Sobers 
describe a Chinaman as a LH wrist spinners stock ball, i.e., it breaks from off to leg for 
a RH bat. If we describe things wrt the bowler, the Chinaman breaks from LtoR and 
the googly breaks from RtoL. 
The OED states that the Chinaman is named after Ellis Achong, a chinese player, who 
played for the WI before the war. The message also mentioned a video tape called 
"Playing cricket the west indian way" which shows Sobers instructing viewers on how to
bowl the LH googly and Chinaman (among other matters). 

Last night I spent an hour of my life finding the video tape (this is not an easy task in my 
house). I then sat through half an hour of the relevant portion of this tape. Nothing could be 
more clear. What I had remembered of this tape and what I had reported are factually 
correct. Of course there were lots of other details. Here are some of these details. 

Sobers first demonstrates the orthodox LH finger spin. He then starts on the LH 
wrist spin. This section of the tape is titled "CHINAMAN -- LH off break". 
Sobers shows the grip, the run up and by a diagram shows that the ball breaks 
from off to leg for a RH bat. 

Sobers then demonstrates the Googly. This section is titled "Googly --LH". 
Again the same thing: Sobers shows the grip, the run up and a diagram showing that 
the ball breaks from leg to off for a RH bat. 

Next and God is merciful Sobers says and I quote "Many people think that the 
LH's googly is the LH's Chinaman. They are not the same ball. The 
Chinaman breaks from off to leg and the googly breaks from leg to off for a RH bat." 

The video then switches to a test match between Eng and ROW at Lords. Sobers is 
running in to bowl to Ray Illingworth (RH bat). 
The video's announcer does a "voice over" saying "First the Chinaman". It hits 
off and spins in. Illingworth blocks and the ball is picked up at forward short leg. 
The commentator can be heard saying "That was the Chinaman." 
Next the voice over says "Now the googly." Sobers is shown running in, ball pitches 
on middle and off, Illingworth goes forward. The ball spins to off, Illingworth 
snicks to wide first slip where Eddie Barlow of SA takes a low catch. The commentators 
can be heard saying that this was the googly, that it spun a lot and that they have been 
talking about it all afternoon long. 

I am willing to provide copies of the videotape at a nominal price. 
The tape is also available from Windian and Indian stores in the NY area. 
It is in NTSC format. It shows batting technique by Sobers, Kanhai, 
spin by Sobers and Gibbs, and fast bowling by Sobers and Holding. 

	--SAN

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