Pronunciation: [ɡˈuːɡli] (IPA) 
The word "googly" is often used to describe a type of cricket delivery in which the ball spins unexpectedly in the opposite direction to what the batsman had anticipated. The spelling of the word is unusual, with the "oo" representing the short vowel sound /ʊ/, the "g" being pronounced as a voiced velar plosive /ɡ/, and the "ly" indicating an adverbial suffix. The IPA phonetic transcription for "googly" would be /ˈɡʊɡli/.
Googly is a term rooted in the sport of cricket and refers to a particular type of delivery made by a spin bowler. A googly is considered a deceptive variation in which the ball spins in the opposite direction to what the batsman expects. When a right-handed bowler bowls a leg-break, which spins from right to left when viewed from behind, a googly is the type of delivery that spins instead from left to right. This results in a sudden change of direction, leaving the batsman bewildered and making it challenging for them to predict the trajectory accurately.
The googly derives its name from its unconventional and puzzling nature. It was coined by English cricketer Bernard Bosanquet, who first introduced this spin technique during the late 19th century. Originally, it was called a "bosie" after his surname but was eventually popularized as the "googly" due to his opponents' reactions, who found it peculiar and hard to comprehend.
The key to a successful googly lies in the bowler's ability to impart spin in the opposite direction, commonly achieved by holding the ball with a specific grip. The sudden change in spin direction can greatly deceive the batsman, often leading to misjudgments, poor shot selection, or even resulting in a wicket. Googly has become an integral weapon of spin bowlers, frequently employed as a surprise element to outwit the opposition and disrupt their batting strategies.
The word "googly" has its origins in the sport of cricket, particularly in reference to a type of delivery bowled by a spin bowler. The etymology of the word itself is uncertain.
One theory suggests that "googly" is derived from the Hindi word "gugul", which means "to deceive" or "to bewilder". This is because a googly delivery is intended to deceive the batsman by spinning in the opposite direction from what is expected.
Another theory suggests that "googly" may be derived from the word "goog", which is a Kentish dialect term meaning "a coal or cinder". This theory relates to the idea that a googly delivery "burns" the batsman by going against their expectations.
The exact origin of the word "googly" remains a topic of debate among cricket enthusiasts, and both theories could potentially have contributed to its formation.
