Exploring the Legacy of Ambidextrous Bowlers: Cricket's Rare Dual-Handed Wonders

When Kamindu Mendis stepped onto the field for his IPL debut, few expected him to make headlines quite like this. The Sri Lankan all-rounder became the first ambidextrous bowler to take a wicket in the Indian Premier League, a feat that had fans, commentators and even fellow players scratching their heads in awe.

In a game dominated by specialists, Mendis’s ability to switch bowling arms within the same over felt like a breath of fresh air. One delivery, he’s bowling left-arm spin to a right-hander. Next, he switches seamlessly to right-arm off-spin to counter the left-handed batter. It’s the kind of variation that makes cricket nerds drool — and rightly so. His dismissal of KKR’s Angkrish Raghuvanshi with a left-arm spinner, followed by a smooth switch to right-arm off-spin against Venkatesh Iyer, wasn’t just a show of skill, but of cricketing intellect. 

But Mendis isn’t the first player to master this rare art. Cricket’s history holds a short but fascinating list of bowlers who have dared to bowl with both hands. The question is, if it’s such a game-changing skill, why haven’t more players — or teams — embraced it? 

Kamindu Mendis and the IPL Spotlight 

Kamindu Mendis may have lit up the IPL stage, but this wasn’t his first rodeo. He made his international debut for Sri Lanka back in 2019 against England. Even then, he turned heads — not for a five-wicket haul or a smashing innings, but for the way he bowled left-arm orthodox to Jason Roy, and then right-arm off-breaks to Ben Stokes. The crowd loved it, analysts raised eyebrows, and coaches across the cricketing world took note. 

But perhaps no one was more vindicated by Mendis’s rise than John Buchanan. The former Australian coach, known as much for his unorthodox ideas as for his success, had been advocating for ambidextrous cricketing skills for decades. While players like Shane Warne thought Buchanan was “a goose” with no common sense, others like Justin Langer hailed him as a visionary. Regardless of where you stand, Buchanan’s push to nurture ambidextrous talent now seems far ahead of its time. 

Not Just Mendis, Not Just Spin 

Kamindu Mendis may be grabbing the headlines, but he’s not the only ambidextrous bowler. India’s Akshay Karnewar has been bowling with both arms in domestic cricket for years. Pakistan’s Yasir Jan is a rare beast — the only known ambidextrous pace bowler in the game. In the women’s game, Jemma Barsby from Australia and Shaila Sharmin from Bangladesh have also quietly been doing their thing. 

Jemma, daughter of former Queensland opener Trevor Barsby, might be the only ambidextrous bowler to emerge from Australia’s highly structured cricketing system. The rest? Almost all from South Asia — where early cricketing education is often more informal, less rigid, and more about innovation than instruction. 

Nature, Nurture, and the Power of Backyard Cricket 

Only about one percent of people are naturally ambidextrous. But that doesn’t mean others can’t be trained. Buchanan insists the key lies in starting early. Take Mike Hussey for example. He batted right-handed until he saw Allan Border play in a Boxing Day Test and immediately switched to left-hand batting because his idol played left-handed. David Warner, too, bowled wrist spin with both arms as a youngster, only to drop the skill as he climbed the elite ranks. It’s a common thread. As players move into structured academies and age-group cricket, there’s often pressure to specialize and focus — sometimes at the cost of creativity. 

Kevin Pietersen offers another example. In his book On Cricket, he explains the origins of his famous switch-hit against Muttiah Muralitharan in 2006. “If you were out for a golden duck in our backyard game, you had to face six balls left-handed and, if you got out again, you were out for good. So, I thought, I need to become good at this.” That playground rule led him to develop what would become one of cricket’s most audacious shots. 

Why Aren’t More Players Doing This? 

Carl Hopkinson, the ECB’s lead fielding coach, may have the answer. He points out that many players are still struggling to master even their dominant-arm throwing. So, developing ambidextrous ability? That’s miles away for most. But Hopkinson adds something important: “That open-mindedness and willingness to try different stuff is something that we need to get better at.” In short, it’s not just about talent. It’s about mindset. And cricket might be starting to shift. 

The Debate Around Fairness and Regulation 

The ICC does allow bowlers to use both arms, but there’s a catch — they must inform the umpire before switching arms, who then informs the batsman. Failing to do so results in a no-ball. But here’s the twist: batsmen are free to switch-hit without any such warning. 

This very rule sparked a heated debate during the 2024 India-England Test series in Hyderabad. During live commentary, Harsha Bhogle questioned the fairness of this rule, suggesting that batters should also have to declare a switch of stance. “Absolute nonsense!” replied Kevin Pietersen. “If you want to switch-hit, allow a bowler to bowl with both hands,” said Bhogle in his retort to Pieterson.  

However, Bhogle wasn’t done. He took to X to defend his stance, writing, “If you want to switch hit, allow a bowler to bowl with both hands. Because something is difficult, it doesn’t make it acceptable.” It was a polarizing discussion — but an important one. The debate around symmetry in cricket laws is gaining steam, especially as ambidextrous talent becomes more visible. 

The Future of Ambidextrous Bowling 

Kamindu Mendis may have given the ambidextrous revolution its IPL moment. But the road ahead depends on how cricket’s powerbrokers, coaches, and grassroots systems respond. Will they encourage this talent, or will specialization continue to be king? As fans, we love unpredictability. We cheer when a batsman pulls off a reverse scoop or a bowler drops in a knuckleball. Ambidextrous bowling might just be the next great frontier. And if nurtured right, it could make cricket even more entertaining. 

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