How to Bowl Leg Spin: A Masterclass - Richie Benaud & Michael Atherton

Richie Benaud and Michael Atherton talk abuot leg-spinbowling and other wrist spinning techniques. (5:05).
This upload shows the highlights and the lowlights of their bowling careers. More importantly it goes through some of the important technical aspects of Leg-spin bowling.
Greg Buckley is the name of the young leggie strutting his stuff here.
Taken from Channel Four's (UK) award winning cricket coverage. (Ashes Series 2005, Old Trafford, 2nd day Lunch break)
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Legal Disclaimer
I have uploaded this video, wholly, in good faith. I, of course, do not claim to owe rights to this footage.
This has not been uploaded for my financial gain. To the best of my knowledge, this upload will not cause any financial loss to any other persons or corporation. Though I am not 100% certain who could rightly claim ownership of this footage, ample research reveals it is NOT publicly available anywhere (commercially or otherwise)
Under these circumstances, I have uploaded this video in the true belief that anyone claiming ownership of this footage would grant me some licence to do so.

[@TheIkaraCult]

Richie was so humble, he wanted the focus to be on the players of the day even though he was a top player in his day. What a man he was

[@johncourtneidge]

Yes!

[@myfanwy7]

Rest in peace Richie, the voice of my childhood summers. A gentle man and a gentleman.

[@cycleSCUBA]

Very well written.

[@ayoungperson3408]

RIP 😭

[@Prithvichouhan406]

My childhood commentator 😢

[@MrSeanMDolan]

Had such a sharp mind even at a late age, I was lucky to be born in 1991, I got to hear his commentary, whilst watching Waugh, Warne, McGrath, Ponting, and Gilchrist.

[@onlyweatherlol93]

Richie benaud, you could listen to him teach spin bowling for days. A legend, such that no one dare question

[@NuggetMuncherGammer]

Richie Benaud is the yoda of cricket

[@kurtjohnston8370]

hahaha classic

[@mitchsullo]

I came here to write the same thing

[@CaptainArn]

this is an incredible comment

[@sovietonion72]

Godfather of cricket 🏏

[@blackadder8691]

This statement is true on so many levels.

[@TheGus619]

Hahahaha, "I brought myself off after taking 5-6 quick wickets" hahah classic Richie you will always be awesome

[@Keepinitreel108]

Marvelous! RIP Richie you were a class act, truly one of a kind!

[@andrewspencer5220]

I love this. Benaud just loves talking about leg spin bowling and he makes it sound so simple. As a test cricketer he is seriously underrated. He was the first man to take 200 wickets and also score 2000 runs in tests. Try asking that in a pub quiz, when I asked nobody got it right.

[@tempestteacup]

Pleasure to hear Ritchie commentate on his own performances from 1961, and his incredibly gentle handling of the under 17 cricketer. One of the joys of cricket is the opportunity to hear articulate individuals talking about what they have done - it is the sort of anti-sport by comparison with all of the others, where we get both to watch feats of athleticism and (occasionally) hear people explain them, their thoughts, and feelings. Great arm ball from Davidson.

[@brucelamberton8819]

What a memory that will be for the young lad - receiving advice and compliments from the legendary Richie Benaud!

[@trcnasherar3676]

He’s a great bloke too quite humble

[@richardsmith9615]

Loved Richie Benaud's commentary. Was a fantastic way to spend hours listening to him discuss stories.

[@hchudasama94]

Wise old master. RIP.

[@garrysimpson1395]

Great video, Richie Benaud,the best commentator ever and Mark Nichlos now the lead commentator for Channel 9. Intrestingly enough Channel 9 now the last commenwealth TV broadcaster to transmitt Cricket on FREE TV. Disabled UK viewer. GOD BLESS!

[@sovietonion72]

Now channel 7 has it and totally stuffed it up.

[@Charlie-vf1gy]

As a kid watching test cricket on the BBC in the 70's Richie was the voice of the sport. He transcended nationality and was a joy. His love of the game shone through and is impartial 'less is more' approach to commentating was sheer brilliance! Sadly missed his kind are a dying breed. RIP Mr B

[@ajs41]

He's the reason I became interested in cricket in 1990. I really think it was just because of his enthusiasm and suave manner.

[@bluesboy8237]

It's difficult to believe that Richie Benaud was actually young once.

[@ajs41]

He looked younger than he actually was when he was playing for Australia.

[@sugarnads]

He went to both my primary and high schools. Legend

[@weirdskyfan6428]

Fun fact - the U17 player’s county career ended at 20 after a broken ankle, but he went on to play club cricket in South Africa and New Zealand and make local headlines in 2015 after scoring six sixes in one over

[@andrew7440]

Thanks I was wondering what became of him

[@jmc31367]

Great upload. That 2nd catch by Bobby Simpson at 2.22 is unbelievable.

[@hectorlp1298]

Benaud saw a lot of catches and for him to rate that one as one of the best is about as high praise as is possible. I do think Simpson was the best slip fielder, not just for that catch and others like it but for his consistency.

[@peterturley1331]

Richie- Total Class in thought, word and deed. Miss you mate.🏏💜😪💔🏏

[@venderstrat]

Richie: 'One of the most exciting moments of my life...'

[@arthurpewtey]

It's a shame he didn't teach more commentators too..... what a great guy he was. I still miss him.

[@davemilnes1147]

That young guy...what a day for him!

[@davidrouson3116]

Richie Benaud, what an absolute hero and gentleman.

[@adam872]

It's hard to overstate how good Richie was as a commentator and observer of the game. That bloke knew more than most people have forgotten. He was also a very good player and I think that's been forgotten a bit. His record at test level would still be very good for a leggie today (3.9 wickets per test at 27).

[@zennor_man]

Dear Richie...a great leg spinner & one of the greatest captains & tacticians ever....

[@guruprasadhc894]

Words were always measured, superbly humorous and witty. We never will get one more person like him in our life time. Good bye Richie. I miss you.

[@stratocaster1986able]

That kids spinning the ball every 2 seconds during the interview was driving me nuts.

[@KevinBradshaw1972]

I wonder what happened to them?

[@TheB657]

Diamond video. I am saving this. Will never get such a video from legends. Whoever is the boy mightbe playing today for England was lucky and blessed to have received this opportunity.

[@tonyknight9912]

Excellent piece, Richie was so good and is much missed. Well done to the lad who for 16 showed splendid confidence and attitude !

[@andrewrobinson1224]

I had the honour & privilege of meeting Mr Benaud at Arundel what a wonderful moment a truly great man its a moment I shall always remember god bless the marvellous person

[@eyesonthetube]

yep. Am a leggie, so it's great to hear the masters talk about it.

[@cricket023]

What an English summer that was. How good were those days. Wish I could travel back in time.

[@mymannashersingh846]

An absolute joy to listen to…the voice I grew up and all of us did

[@Critic224]

Mr Benaud explained leg spin so simply Very good indeed

[@aricarr247]

Richie first class gentleman and cricketing royalty.

[@danielgrace3814]

Richie was absolute class ❤

[@TheAusJT]

Very good masterclass. OT, is that a masonic handshake from Richie that I see there at 14:28?

[@wildfire7250]

Fabulous Richie's advice superb. Thanks Richie Brilliant Cricketer Brilliant Commentator RIP and Thanks😊

[@vinniche]

The best commentator. Period...

[@elmonte5lim]

Blimey! Dexter, Close, May, Fred Truman? Back in the day when I gave a shit about cricket. Thangs for the memories!

[@Sagar_Patelv28]

I still play EA's cricket 2007 just to hear Ritchie Benaud and Mark Nicholas

[@ActuallySamD]

The voice of cricket. Forevermore.

[@MichaelJames-rt2vd]

Richie was probably the most respected person the sport of cricket has and will ever have.

[@danielparry1260]

knowledge from a master. RIP

[@eyesonthetube]

Love your videos legbreakgoogly. Didn't have cable growing up, so love that I can watch old vdeios about legspin from the days gone. Good karma for your efforts.

[@rileyhenderson2523]

4:37 “did he hang his boots up or did he hang himself” 🙀🙀🙀🤣🤣

[@lukepittle8961]

I’m surprised this is the only comment mentioning that haha

[@hipm3472]

Lived for leg spin. Legend.

[@collinslfc]

I could listen to Richie Benaud all day.

[@MegaDavyk]

Richie Benaud was named by Fiona Bernetta (Ritual abuse whistle blower) as being a high level Satanist who participated in the most evil satanic rituals including human sacrifice. See her video "Fiona Barnett - Witness of VIP Satanic Ritual in Bathurst, 1985"

[@How2PlayCricket]

Interesting masterclass. I have done a doosra masterclass and will soon do my drift class on my channel.

[@cycleSCUBA]

Some great back up catching by Bob Simpson.

[@justRoyza]

Imagine having the great man give you a couple of pointers on ya leggies! Miss ya Ritchie! 🇦🇺

[@sovietonion72]

That is what you would call priceless.

[@bruhberry2431]

richie benaud should have been more than knighted. he was worthy of being a king.

[@adityakulkarni3184]

Mark Nicolas is by far the best presenter in cricket today

[@TheGus619]

hahaha took myself off after taking 5-6 quick wickets hahaha classic richie

[@gnargnar1898]

What an absolute King of Cricket Richie was, literally had the whole game summed up in a matter of minutes with a fine selection of words, while the presenter stammers to fuck up what he's saying. RIP Richie Benaud

[@Abdullah-fk9bz]

Remember watching this on tv many many years ago

[@arthurpewtey]

Damn, I miss Richie Benaud.

[@Ingens_Scherz]

I really miss C4's coverage. Especially the occasionally stoned Dermot Reeve doing Imran Khan impressions.

[@petedunsford2915]

You just know Richie wanted to send a few down here! God rest him … what a voice. If ever one voice made a sport …

[@mohammadmalik2957]

Greg looks really pleased to be there 😂

[@johnsmith2001]

I miss Richie ❤️

[@07sanjeewakaru]

Brilliant upload dude!That's legspinners dowry and heritage developed from date back to Bill O'Reilly transferred by legendary Richie(And by you legbreakgoogly) to the world.Ha ha!Quite simple,Develop vicious legbreake(may take 4 years-But Warn did it in 2),and my favorite part is 14:36.So this is why CH4 coverage was brilliant.Thanks million!

[@someblokecalleddave1]

The old shut your eyes, run in and bowl drill (Richie) it's a good un!

[@chrisp4170]

Didn’t Devon Malcolm use that technique in tests?

[@someblokecalleddave1]

@@chrisp4170 Not sure, never heard that myself. Apparently I do it when I bowl - loads of wicket keepers have said as I go into the BFC phase of my action I have my eyes closed, I don't notice it myself. Do you know at which point he closes his eyes as I've tried it in practice just to try and get my whole action correct as I approach the crease, but I never carried it through to bowling with my eyes closed on purpose in a game.

[@legbreakgoogly]

Just seen it... That is quite remarkable. Rob's got a library of cricket footage I simply don't not have. Plus he looked after all his VT. I simply recorded stuff in bits and bobs for my own benefit. I reckon Rob's a visionary... I reckon when recording all that footage in the early 80's & 90's, he knew 1 day there would be a worldwide video sharing platform for him to re-broadcast to the world again. I could be wrong... P.S couple of month til i'll be uploading again... I hope.

[@blackadder8691]

God. Absolute cricket deity.

[@brucelamberton8819]

We miss you, Richie.

[@trcnasherar3676]

Lovely bloke Greg Buckley lucky enough to bowl agaist him

[@sentimentalbloke185]

Hilarious. Imagine inviting Atherton in to a conversation on how to bowl wrist spin.

[@wce05308]

2:23 fair grab by Simpson.

[@cruxcommissa]

Pretty good coverage for the 1960s.

[@rentaghostokish5628]

Whatever happened to Greg Buckley? Never saw sight nor sound of him in the England set up...

[@thisiszaphod]

Rentaghost okish Still playing in the Lancashire leagues - plagued by long standing injury between this piece and now, unfortunately.

[@trcnasherar3676]

@@thisiszaphodcurrently playing in country nsw Dubbo as of 2024 great bloke now bowls off spin and a fair batsmen

[@johncourtneidge]

Thank-you!

[@sebasback]

Link to Atherton's wickets? Great upload here!

[@aratrikghosh2717]

My grandfather used to say that sir richie benaud was the shane warne of his time he was the best bowler of his time he was not just a great analyst but also a great cricketer

[@JasonX2]

Looooooved seeing Athers bowl! He's good!!!! looooool xXxXx

[@vickyverma5572]

Learning from the Master

[@JasonX2]

That young Leggie was all over the place!

[@donovanphipps777]

trying too hard to impress and bowl the magic delivery instead of being consistent and landing it in an area.

[@MadMax-dr6mf]

Watching that young lad eagerly absorbing the knowledge of the old cricketing great, while good to see is also a little sad. I'm thinking of how society treats it's old people, and am reminded of what Victor Hugo said about the Seine and how in his day it served as the sewer of Paris: he said that the city literally flushed away so many millions of francs a day. Meaning it could have been used to fertilise fields instead of befouling the river. The elderly are also treated like smelly refuse, to be kept out of sight and mind and disposed of, to be ignored or sent to nursing homes where they can vegetate and die. Yet what benefits there would be if young schoolchildren regularly heard the it stories, memories, experiences. The older generation love an interested audience when they reminisce, kids love stories. There's a a gap here that could quite simply be filled to the obvious benefit of both groups.

[@michaelj690]

great stuff.

[@legbreakgoogly]

@ 1:34 Funny comment, bentkaku... Made my laugh that. 52 years on and he's still getting a slating... poor guy You are right though...

[@joshsgamingtech7656]

Richie I respect you rest in peace sir....

[@tarjinder7]

There's something weird about Atherton getting a OBE

[@ajs41]

No there isn't, but this is something weird about Richie Benaud not getting a knighthood.

[@legbreakgoogly]

Often wondered that myself. This would have been a very different upload if he did...

[@SuperFerdie1965]

Why the hell has Benaud not been knighted? A dreadful oversight.

[@cronulla70]

fuck that, he's better than that

[@robin7275]

They only give to the West Indies, BLM was still alive. So many WI players were knighted, is Richie Richardson more worthy of Richie Benaud, Denis Lillee or Shane Warne? UK knighthood is a mockery, should be abolished.

[@SuperFerdie1965]

@@robin7275 I tend to agree mate.

[@jamiewilson5679]

@@robin7275 Richie should've been yes but if you're a cricket fan of around my age (49)(proud Englishman btw),you'd have huge ,massive respect and love for those West Indians.

[@sentimentalbloke185]

Australia abolished imperial honours (including knighthoods) in the 1980s. The honours system is known as the Order of Australia: recipients get AC, AO, AM, or OAM.

[@fr33ish]

SUCH A LUCKY GUY TO GET COMMENT FROM MASTERS !!

[@onlyweatherlol93]

"and don't ask where's the rest of it" 😏🤣

[@kunaldutta4482]

Athers spun the ball waaaayyyy more than the kid. And put on a good show for legspin, topspin and googly! Richie was being kind and diplomatic - the kid was going against most of Richie's dictums, and bowling quickish balls that hardly changed direction.

[@brucelamberton8819]

Bit harsh given the lad's young age. However, I agree wiith you in that he needs to slow his delivery speed down (and toss the ball higher), but that will come with experience. Overall though, I agree with Richie in that his bowling technique - especially his body position when he releases the ball - is pretty sound. Also, he was probably rather nervous , but for what I think was his fourth ball, he slowed it down and it was pretty good, albeit it more of a top spinner than a leg break (as where the others).

[@superbuddyfranklin]

2:30 What a ball.

[@LLOOYYYDD]

Richie Benaud, farkin' legend

[@prateekchauhan6376]

Important tips for leg spin bowling start from 05:10

[@hipm3472]

“Show me your grip” LOL 8:53

[@NoName-eo2mv]

That wicket keeper was hopeless 😂

[@rohan22no]

Where is greg buckley now?

[@ahogg5960]

Never really broke through unfortunately, injuries curtailed his career

[@mukhtaraslam3996]

Richie benaud was the voice of cricket along with Geoffrey boycott.

[@brucelamberton8819]

NEVER mention the two togther. Richie was the master and a true gentleman, while Boycott is an opinionated bitter old man.

[@KevinMeeds]

Why the f~ck would anyone dislike this? It seems to me 12 people are utterly bone headed.

[@anilchauisms]

Benaud was so good

[@portcullis5622]

Not one of David Blunkett's best days behind the stumps.

[@BeardedBugs]

He was a great batsman though. If it had been a masterclass on defensive intelligent batting he'd be one of the first I'd want hosting it.

[@1202-k1k]

Who is watching at 2020?

[@eshan309]

Idk about others, but to me it seemed like the kid was like "wth is this old guy sayin, i know all the stuff dude". like seriously he has no idea of who that 'old guy' is. i hope i m wrong though. A great vid. RIP

[@rentaghostokish5628]

***** Yeah, and no surprise that the knowitall punk kid went on to achieve diddly squat in cricket, whereas Richie is a legend.

[@fbhogg1234]

Got one question - any idea where this leg-spinning kid ended up? He'd be in his mid 20s now...has he gone on to first class cricket, or did he disappear down the pan?

[@stilicho1945]

I wondered that too but no, club cricketer.