What is a ‘wanger’, why is it used and is it dangerous?

Cricket authorities have confirmed that teenager Ben Austin, who was fatally struck by a cricket ball in Ferntree Gully this week, was facing balls from a wanger, a device used to throw practice deliveries at batters.

What is a wanger?

A wanger is the colloquial term for the sidearm ball thrower used by cricket coaches and players. At a glance, the contraption is similar to the thrower used by dog owners but cricket’s version is sturdier to accommodate a cricket ball, which is harder than a tennis ball.

The wanger comes in different forms. Novice cricketers typically use the “sidearm club” while players at higher junior ages up to the top levels use the “sidearm elite”.

The elite version is more rigid, which allows the ball to be thrown at speeds between 88km/h and 136km/h. Australia Test captain and star paceman Pat Cummins usually bowls in the high 130s and low 140s.

Why is it used?

The wanger will have saved the shoulders of many a coach and cricketer at all levels of the game.

It allows coaches to throw more balls at batters without the strain to the shoulder, back and legs associated with running in and bowling the equivalent of 10 to 15 overs.

Retailing between about $65 (club) to $99 (elite), the wanger is a far more affordable option than a bowling machine, which can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

The wanger also better simulates the natural action of a bowler. Whereas the bowling machine spits balls out from the same spot for every delivery, the sidearm allows the thrower to vary their release point and bowl balls of different lines and lengths.

Depending on the user’s action and how the ball is placed, the device can simulate swing and seam movement and even changes of pace.

Coaches at the top ranks throw the ball from well in front of the bowling crease to simulate the higher speed a player will face in a game, but this does not occur at all levels.

Are they difficult to use?

They can be. Many club coaches and park cricketers are adept enough to throw hundreds of balls at players during training, but errors can occur.

Even the best can struggle with this skill. This masthead has seen a former cricketer who played at the international level having difficulty with his control when providing throwdowns at training to members of the national men’s Test team.

Is it dangerous to use a wanger?

There are always dangers in games involving a projectile as hard as a cricket ball that is thrown at more than 100km/h.

If the thrower gets their release point wrong, they could send down a beamer – a full toss that is above waist height – or a bouncer.

A beamer is illegal, dangerous and called a no-ball by umpires. They are more difficult than other deliveries to face as a batter would not be expecting such a ball, especially if mistakenly directed at the head.

A bouncer is a short-pitched delivery that can pass the batter at above shoulder height or, in some cases, hit the batter on the head.

It is also worth pointing out at training nights around the country, tens of thousands of cricketers of all ages and levels face balls tossed at them from a wanger without incident.

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