<P> Cricket's bowlers are grouped into different categories based on their bowling style--pacemen, seamers, off - spinners (or finger - spinners), leg - spinners (or wrist - spinners)--though a bowler may fall into more than one category (pace and seam bowling, for instance, largely overlap). The faster bowlers usually open the bowling, when the ball is at its hardest and smoothest . Spin bowlers generally bowl later, when the ball has begun to deteriorate and become rough . </P> <P> Baseball's pitchers are classified primarily by their throwing hand (left or right, with left - handed pitchers often called "southpaws") and their usual role in games . A starting pitcher begins games, typically not more than one game in five, in a rotation with four teammates who are also starters who will start games in a sequential cycle, and usually pitch five or more innings . Starters rarely appear as substitutes in games started by others . A relief pitcher enters games later, sometimes on short notice in crisis situations in which there are already runners on base and / or the opponent's best hitters due to bat, and usually pitches fewer innings in any given game . But relievers may be called upon to pitch in several games consecutively . Some relievers even specialise further strictly as closers brought in just to pitch the last inning of a game in which his team leads by a narrow margin . Perhaps the most specialised group of relievers is left - handed specialists--left - handed pitchers who pitch almost exclusively to left - handed batters (sometimes to switch hitters who are weaker batters right - handed). More often than not, such a pitcher will face only one batter in a given game . </P> <P> Pitchers are sometimes secondarily grouped according to pitching style, type of pitch most often used, or velocity . This is especially common when pitching technique is rare or unusual . For example, there are many different variations on how the pitch is delivered, including the conventional overhand in which the ball is thrown from the 12 o'clock position, 3 / 4 styles (with the arm moving towards the plate between 12 and 3 o'clock), as well as the less common sidearm (3 o'clock arm angle, compare roundarm bowling in cricket) and' submarine' (below 3 o'clock, compare underarm bowling in cricket) deliveries . The submarine pitch is rare, and a pitcher who throws in this way usually has a' submariner' attached to his name or description . Similarly, there are many kinds of pitches thrown, including the fastball, curve ball, slider, and knuckleball . Capable knuckleballers are extremely rare and are usually described by this skill first . </P> <P> For reasons that continue to spur debate, it is historically the case that most right - handed pitchers succeed at higher rates against right - handed hitters than against left - handers, and that most left - handed pitchers succeed at higher rates against left - handed hitters than right - handers . </P>

Cricket distance from batsman at which ball bounces