Watch: Graeme Swann bowls the ball of the decade

While the entire world of cricket often talks about the ball of the century bowled by Shane Warne and how West Indian spinner Devendra Bishoo came close to bowling the same delivery, very few talk about the turn that the off-spinners generate. Cricket has seen some of the greatest modern day warriors in the form of off-spinners, be it Muttiah Muralitharan, Ashwin or Graeme Swann. This video is clear cut example of a classical off-spin delivery. If there ever will be a definition of off-spin bowling, then this video will certainly be the description of the modern art.

It was the second Test of the Pakistan’s tour to England in 2010 at Edgbaston. Pakistan was bundled out for a paltry 72 in the first innings, in response to which the home side scored 251 runs. But the moment of the match came in the second innings when English off-spinner Graeme Swann cleaned up Pakistan opener Imran Farhat.

It was the third delivery of the 30^th over when Swann bowled the ball of the decade, if not of this century. Pakistan was 53/1 and Imran Farhat had scored 29 of 128 deliveries. Swann went around the wicket to the left-handed batsman and was on the money for the first two balls. The third one was perhaps a gem of a delivery. The ball landed on the good length, an inch or two outside leg stump as Farhat came on his front foot only to miss the ball. The ball turned viciously and spun to hit the off stump. Farhat couldn’t get his bat anywhere close to the ball.

The English newspapers dubbed the ball as the ball of the 21^st century. Swann admitted that it indeed was his best ball and quoted, “That’s the best ball I’ve ever bowled but it was a bit of fluke. You try to put the ball in the right place but don’t expect it to pitch outside led and hit off. I’m delighted.”

The newspapers headlines read “Ball was Swann in a million” and it indeed was. He finished the innings with figures of 6-65 off his 37 overs. England won the match by 9 wickets and Swann was adjudged as the Man of the Match.

Watch: Graeme Swann bowls the ball of the decade: