Breaking down the bowling action of Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq

Unusual? Yes. Crafty? Most definitely.

But illegal? Almost certainly not.

That’s the consensus view within Australian cricket about the bowling action of Pakistan’s Usman Tariq, who flummoxed Cameron Green and drew a heated reaction from the Australian allrounder after his dismissal during a 3-0 Twenty20 series hiding.

While spin bowlers of all kinds caused trouble for the Australians in Lahore, with a bit of help from the left-arm pace and swing of Shaheen Afridi, it was Tariq’s curious bowling style and Green’s angry response that turned most heads.

Tariq, a seasoned operator on the franchise T20 circuit, has played only three times for Pakistan in international games, but he seems likely to be an ace up the sleeve of Salman Ali Agha’s team during the looming T20 World Cup.

Pakistan, it seems, have used Tariq sparingly precisely because his action takes some getting used to, and in the hectic T20 arena there often isn’t time to spend a few balls getting acquainted with a different bowler.

Tariq then took to Instagram to mock Green’s reaction, equating it with that of a petulant child, and 24 hours later indicated that he had received an apology from Green.

What is it then, that so frustrated Green and has helped Tariq pluck 67 cheap wickets from 41 T20 games around the world, while conceding fewer than seven runs an over? Let’s break it down into the various phases of his bowling action.

The approach

Nothing particularly different to see here. Tariq approaches the striker very much like most spin bowlers, with a focused trot to the crease from a slight angle.

In terms of a batter’s cues, they are perhaps lulled into a sense that this will be nothing particularly out of the ordinary, despite having doubtless seen video footage of Tariq beforehand.

The pause

This is where things get interesting. Most finger spinners have something of a pause when they get to the crease, as their braced front leg is important to imparting spin and bounce to the ball, rather than rolling through with the same momentum.

But Tariq’s is so pronounced as to make the batter feel like the delivery has been aborted, or at the very least put on excruciating pause.

In the words of one former Australian spin bowler and coach: “You could argue the ethics about him stopping at the crease before he releases, but there’s nothing in the rules to say he can’t.”

Here’s another example from around the wicket to Matt Kuhnemann.

There have been times in the past when such pauses were linked to attempts to run out the non-striker backing up, but in Tariq’s case it is a consistent part of his technique. It is extremely likely to mess with the rhythm of a batter who is, often in the late overs of a T20 match, trying to hit out.

The side-arm

Tariq’s arm is most definitely bent during delivery, and if it is that bent, then it is also likely to straighten somewhat.

But most observers agree it does not straighten anywhere near the 15 degree threshold required for an action to be ruled illegal in 2026 - as proven by two rounds of International Cricket Council-sanctioned testing when umpires previously reported his action.

Most unusual is the extremely low, slingy arm action. Among contemporary bowler’s Tariq’s arm height resembles that of the former Sri Lankan fast man Lasith Malinga, just at nowhere near the same speed.

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A century ago, another spinner who made an art form of bowling with a low arm was the Australian leggie Clarrie Grimmett, who took 216 Test wickets between 1925 and 1936 after making his debut at the late age of 33.

Tariq has a long way to go to get there, but he will be a surprise weapon for Pakistan and franchise teams for some time to come.

As another former Australian player put it: “I don’t believe he’s suspect. Unusual, yes, but not illegal.”

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