Flight (cricket)

In cricket, the flight of the ball is its trajectory through the air between being released by the bowler and bouncing on the pitch.

The flight of a delivery may be varied by changing the pace of the ball or through use of the Magnus force.

This implies that the bowler has deliberately varied the trajectory of the ball in order to deceive the batsman as to the exact location it will land.

Applying a lateral Magnus force will make the ball move sideways in the air, this is known as drift.

In one-day cricket, spinners will often "push through" flatter deliveries, as they are perceived as more difficult to strike for boundaries by aggressive batsmen.