In cricket, a deceptive bowling technique where the ball curves in an unexpected direction, confusing the batter.
Coined in cricket around 1900s, possibly from the verb 'googol' or onomatopoeia mimicking the ball's spin. Some suggest it comes from the googly's 'goggly-eyed' effect on batters. The term remains primarily British and Australian.
The googly was so revolutionary when invented that batters literally didn't know how to play against it—it's one of the few sports terms born from a specific trick that completely changed the game.
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