What Is The Difference Between Swinging And Seaming?

Image credit rawpixel.com

 

Is swing and seam the same thing?

At first glance, the question of swing and seam may sound simple because both phenomena seem so entangled to such an extent that they mean the same thing.

However, oversimplification does not do justice to the bowlers who have taken the time to fine-tune their skill in one or both of the actions.

 

More often than not the words have been used interchangeably when in reality they define two different phenomena. Some bowlers are great at extracting swing, others are distinguished at manipulating the seam and an elite few have mastered both arts.

 

The only thing "swinging" and "seaming" have in common is that they both refer to the deviation of a cricket ball from it's anticipated flight path upon release from a bowler's hand.

 

Question: The difference? 

Answer: The point of deviation.

 

Swinging refers to the lateral movement of a ball mid-air before or after it makes contact with the ground. Seaming, on the other hand, is lateral movement off the surface.

 

What is Seam Movement?

 

Seaming is a result of the ball's seam interacting with the surface. 

By definition, a seam is a line where two pieces of leather are sewn together. This inevitably makes it a protruding ridge on a cricket ball that bowlers are fond of exploiting. 

Because it's a protrusion, if a ball lands on it's seam it will deviate from it's original travel path, hence deceiving a batsman and hopefully (in a bowler's case) capturing a wicket.

Accordingly, it was termed "seam movement" because it's literally movement off the ball's seam. 

 

What is Swing?

 

Swing is a result of the ball's interaction with atmospheric conditions. 

 

The ball's condition will also determine the magnitude of swing. A new ball generally tends to swing more than an older ball does.

However, on occasion, an older ball can swing just as much, especially when one half of the older ball is significantly smoother than the other half.

 

An uneven distribution of drag mid-air between a ball's smooth side and the rough side will induce swing deviation. 

 

When all is said and done, swing is ultimately dependent on the atmospheric conditions. Other factors such as the ball's age, smoothness or roughness of a side, bowler's skill, et cetera, will only determine the magnitude of swing on offer.