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Curran's best weapon? The 'moon ball' strikes again

Curran's best weapon? The 'moon ball' strikes again

Statistics show Sam Curran's 'moon ball' is one of his most effective weapons. How does he do it and what makes it so effective?

The 'moon ball' worked again for Sam Curran in Adelaide on Sunday.

The England all-rounder has had a tricky run since he returned from injury last month, taking only four wickets at an average of 55.75 in five one-day internationals before boarding the flight from Perth.

But Curran was rewarded for returning to his tried and tested in the second ODI against Australia.

With the first ball of a new spell Curran bowled Jack Edwards with that trademark slower ball - this one clocked slower than many spinners at 50mph.

Edwards, head rocking back and arm on his hip, looked like a man frustrated to have been deceived.

He is not the first to be done by Curran's moon ball. It is one of the 28-year-old's most potent weapons.

Data from analysts CricViz suggests he is averaging 17 with deliveries under 90km/h (56mph) in ODIs since the start of 2025, when he developed the delivery. When bowling above 90km/h, he averages 45.16.

The dismissal of Edwards was his fourth moon-ball wicket. India pair Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan and Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka have fallen for the trap in the 50-over format.

Curran was clocked bowling as low as 43mph earlier this year.

In brief

The 'moon ball' worked again for Sam Curran in Adelaide on Sunday. With the first ball of a new spell Curran bowled Jack Edwards with that trademark slower ball - this one clocked slower than many spinners at 50mph. He is not the first to be done by Curran's moon ball. The dismissal of Edwards was his fourth moon-ball wicket.

This is the opening of the story, shared with credit to BBC Sport. The rest of the report — with every detail — continues on the publisher’s website.

Continue reading at BBC Sport ↗

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