Dharamsala: The ‘chinaman’ is a rare sight in cricket these days. Made famous by the likes of Sir Garfield Sobers, Michael Bevan, and Brad Hogg, the chinaman is a delivery bowled by a left-arm wrist-spinner.
The orthodox chinaman delivery generally comes into a right-handed batsmen.
India's Kuldeep Yadav, who was handed his first cap in Test cricket in the fourth and final Test between India and Australia, joined the elite list of illustrious chinamen.
While the Aussies came out all guns blazing in the first session, India have taken back control of the game in the second one, with Kuldeep reining the Aussies back with three wickets.
During the 22-year-old’s spell, the commentators Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, and Matthew Hayden went on to explain.
There are different versions to the story, as to how the term ‘chinaman’ cropped-up in cricket.
While South Africa’s Charlie Llewellyn claimed to be the first left-arm wrist spinner in the history of cricket back in the 19th century, the term ‘chinaman’ cropped up a few decades later.
Ellis ‘Puss’ Achong, who was a West Indian cricketer of Chinese origin, is said to have been involved in the origin of the term.
English batsman Walter Robins got out stumped by an Achong delivery that spun inside from outside the off stump. While returning back to the pavilion, Robins had reportedly remarked: "Fancy being done by a bloody Chinaman."
This had reportedly given rise to the term.
Kuldeed Yadav became the first ‘chinaman’ to play a Test match for the India men’s national team. The day however, was even more special for the 22-year-old, as he picked up three wickets (as of the end of play of the second session of the Dharamsala Test).
Yadav got the wickets of the dangerous-looking David Warner, who became his first Test scalp. It was quite clearly an emotional moment for the youngster, who broke into tears while celebrating the wicket with his teammates.
Kuldeep also went on to pluck off Peter Handscomb and Glenn Maxwell, on his debut, capping off a brilliant first day in office.
