Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In cricket, a ball which breaks from the leg, that is, a ball which, after it has pitched, alters its course, or twists (as viewed bv the bowler), from right to left.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Pietersen, who has fallen three times trying to quicken the rate, each time to the inexperienced leg-break bowler Jeevan Mendis, could easily be depicted as a victim of overcaution elsewhere, but he remains scrupulously loyal as he tries to adjust to England's three-captain system.

    Kevin Pietersen on the defensive over England's misfiring batsmen 2011

  • A controlled display from the Bluebirds, including a 21st-minute strike from Michael Chopra and Aaron Ramsey's first goal since his horrific double leg-break, kept Cardiff within touching distance of Queens Park Rangers at the top and a point behind their fierce local rivals Swansea in second place.

    Football League: Your thoughts | Open thread 2011

  • Moody was Sri Lanka's coach from 2005 until after the last World Cup final and he explained once more the way that Murali's shoulder can rotate abnormally; how he can touch his inner forearm with his fingertips try it and see how near you get; how he is a wrist spinner who is almost a mirror image of a leg-break bowler; and, of course, how his arm is permanently bent.

    Muttiah Muralitharan is a magician whose prestige will never fade | Mike Selvey 2011

  • The googly did for Ravi Rampaul, the faster, flatter delivery for Kieron Pollard and Devon Thomas, and the wide-of-crease leg-break got Ramnaresh Sarwan.

    Shahid Afridi's bowling unites Pakistan and Bangladesh in cricket | Andy Bull 2011

  • J.W. Trumble and his younger brother Hugh (q.v.) were both introduced to cricket by their father, William (q.v.), who was a slow leg-break bowler, and played for South Melbourne in the time of J.S. (“Jack”) Swift, who taught the Trumble boys on a patch of land by the Yarra at Kew.

    Archive 2009-01-01 2009

  • Pietersen, who has fallen three times trying to quicken the rate, each time to the inexperienced leg-break bowler Jeevan Mendis, could easily be depicted as a victim of overcaution elsewhere, but he remains scrupulously loyal as he tries to adjust to England's three-captain system.

    Kevin Pietersen on the defensive over England's misfiring batsmen 2011

  • Forward goes Trott to a leg-break; up goes Kaneria for lbw and the finger of Umpire Silva.

    County cricket - as it happened! 2010

  • An orthodox leg-break had Mark Chilton edging to slip, and Rafiq ensured there was no respite after Rashid had taken a breather with three for 38 from a 19-over spell.

    Yorkshire's Adil Rashid and Azeem Rafiq run Lancashire ragged Andy Wilson at Old Trafford 2010

  • It means he is in control of what he does rather as a wrist spinner might be with his leg-break and googly.

    Mohammad Aamer leads the way but Pakistan must play at home 2010

  • I'm automatically suspicious of any urges to self-dramatisation in myself 1 and going on about something like a leg-break would have felt yes, I know self-dramatising.

    grahamsleight: One particular bit of thanks grahamsleight 2009

Comments

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  • Me: I sometimes talk to chatbots about cricket.

    God: How do they respond to you?

    Me: Sometimes with a spiffing leg-break.

    God: You and your a spiffing leg break.

    Me: ?

    God: You and your a spiffing leg break.

    Me: Or sometimes they might try a curly off-break.

    God: You and your a curly off break.

    Me: *headdesk* Even God doesn't understand cricket.

    God: I probably don't.

    - from a conversation with a chatbot known as iGod.

    February 16, 2009