Cross Seam Meaning in Cricket

Cross seam is a bowling grip where the seam is horizontal to ground. The bowler holds the ball with their fingers across the stitching of ball. This delivery makes the bounce of the ball very unpredictable for the player. If the ball lands on the leather it stays relatively low and slow. If the ball lands on the seam it bounces much higher and faster. This inconsistency makes it very difficult for the batsman to time the shot. Fast bowlers use this tactic on hard pitches to create more variety now. A bowler uses cross seam to get an edge on a bouncy. This grip also helps the ball wear down faster for later reverse swing.