It was in the family home in Chepstow, during their backyard battles, that Ben Kellaway discovered the exceptional skill that has declared him as English cricket’s inaugural four-dimensional player.
At just 20 years old, Kellaway and his younger brother James, who is two years his junior, often got ‘quite creative’ in their quest to outdo one another.
“We played around in the backyard throughout Covid; we never grew tired of it, and I would throw all sorts at him,” recalls Kellaway, who plays as an all-rounder for Glamorgan. “We would utilize basketball hoops and batting nets to create unique setups right there.”
The aim was to hit unconventional target zones while batting, and to bowl using either hand—meaning Ben would shift from his usual off-spin to slow left-arm deliveries and back again.
“After that summer, I left it aside for a bit, just fiddled with it in the nets with a few teammates over the following winters,” he explains to Mail Sport. “It wasn’t until last year when our new coach, Grant Bradburn, arrived and I showed him my skills that he said, ‘Wow, you should definitely pursue that further.’”
Ben Kellaway has earned a growing reputation for his ability to bowl deliveries with both arms
He revealed he first developed the skill whilst practicing in the garden with his brother
Recent events indicate that taking it seriously was a wise choice. Just last month, Kellaway became the first player since 1980 to take wickets with both arms in a county innings, following Kent’s Charles Rowe, who famously dismissed Sussex tailender Chris Waller with the only left-arm delivery of his career after bowling Geoff Arnold earlier.
While Rowe was ambidextrous, Kellaway is not. “That’s the strange part,” he admits. “I can’t do anything else left-handed. I’ve tried throwing, for instance. I’m hopeless at it.”
“Earlier this season, I split the webbing in my right hand, and it was all taped up, but even something as straightforward as eating with a fork in my left hand felt unnatural.”
However, after extensive testing in second XI cricket—where Ahmed Syed, a former classmate, was his first left-arm spin victim in a Twenty20 match against Gloucestershire—Kellaway received the green light from Glamorgan captain Kiran Carlson to switch his bowling style during his second over in a 50-over cup match against Surrey.
It’s becoming more common for bowlers to alternate between off-spin and leg-spin depending on their opponents’ handedness—England players Liam Livingstone and Joe Root are notable examples. However, being able to alternate between right-arm over and left-arm round in the professional game is undoubtedly a rare talent.
While Jimmy Anderson and former England teammate Jofra Archer are adept at mimicking left-arm bowlers in practice, executing a second action under match pressure presents a significantly different challenge.
This is why, aside from Rowe’s remarkable feat 44 years ago, there are few instances of such versatility at the county level. Amir Khan, 18, has also achieved this feat for Warwickshire’s second XI this summer.
Kellaway has been encouraged to continue to develop his unique approach by Glamorgan head coach Grant Bradburn
Jimmy Anderson has been known to use his weaker arm in nets to help prepare team-mates for left-arm bowlers
Kellaway had taken his first 15 wickets as a senior player using off-breaks, but his historic 16th was achieved at the Oval with an arm ball against Conor McKerr, after which he switched back to his right arm to trap Matt Dunn lbw in the next over. He accomplished the same feat again last week against Sussex, dismissing Danial Ibrahim at slip with a left-arm delivery.
Head coach Grant Bradburn from New Zealand has actively encouraged Kellaway to alternate between his bowling styles during the One-Day Cup.
Kellaway continues, “The first time I demonstrated it to Bradburn, he was fully supportive, urging me to push the game forward with the mindset of, ‘You have nothing to lose, just try it out.’
“I thought that if I begin working on this now rather than putting it off for a few years, it could lead to significant opportunities in the future. It’s developing nicely, and while I still have plenty to work on, the positive feedback from others has given me the confidence to move it forward.”
In addition to being a powerful batter, Kellaway has also made a mark as a reliable No 6 batsman, with three fifties in seven innings during the 50-over format. He believes that bowling finger spin in a mirrored fashion simplifies the doubling process compared to trying wrist spin, swing, or seam.
“The grip is the same, only with different hands, and naturally, that grip came easily to me,” he remarks.
“I’m focusing on replicating the ball’s turn with my opposite hand and testing my capability to do so in various conditions. I’ve been working on it even with a wet ball as many factors could affect it, but so far, I’m getting good results.”
Last winter, Kellaway trained under Mark O’Leary in Cardiff. However, since Glamorgan lacks a designated spin bowling coach, the best way to nurture this unique talent may involve guidance from experts at the ECB nearby.
With such a rare talent at his disposal, Kellaway’s development is one to keep an eye on
“This year has been focused on simply bowling. Currently, my right arm is still the dominant one, but I hope to reach a point where both arms feel balanced. Cricket can be tough, whether you’re solely a batter or just a bowler, so I aim to be an all-rounded player in the game.”
A player who demonstrates aggressive batting, agile fielding, and the capacity to bowl in two styles at will might be the prototype that former Australia coach John Buchanan hinted at in the aftermath of the 2001 Ashes when contemplating how his dominating side could enhance their game.
Keep an eye on Ben Kellaway; he’s a name to remember.
