Finger spinners still have a vital role in modern cricket.

Of course, we all know cricket is a batsman's game and it's becoming more so every year. More and more cricket is played on bat-friendly pitches. Free hits, field restrictions and tight wides make life tough for the spinner.

How can you bowl well in these conditions?

Variations.

If you adapt your deliveries, a batsman will find it very hard to predict and so can't line you up to hit into the spin. Arm ball, doosra, teesra and plain old pace variations are all tools in your spinners toolbox.

One thing remains constant with these variations: Accuracy. Having variations works better if you can put most balls on a difficult length for the batsman. This is the strange paradox of modern spin. You need to be accurate while never being predictable.

Game sense

Random variations are not good enough alone. You need a cricket brain to adapt. For example, to a turning pitch.

Know when to adjusting line to bowl outside off stump, turning in. This is the classic off spin delivery. Even if you do not rip it square, a turning pitch should be enough to get the ball through the gate.

This line is essentially another variation.

What does all this mean for you?

It's important to decide what variety you will use. There are a lot of options for a spinner and many of them depend on the wickets and format you play. Then work towards mastering the methods that work best for you.

It will take a lot of bowling of course, and a lot of failure as you adapt and learn your style. This is all part of the process of becoming confident in your own method.