Why was round-arm bowling controversial in the 19th century?

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Jonny Bairstow of England, wearing a light blue uniform and helmet, batting during the 2019 Cricket World Cup semi-final against Australia, with two Australian fielders behind the stumps. — cricket Jonny Bairstow of England batting during a semifinal match against Australia at the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

In the early 19th century, cricket underwent a significant shift known as the round-arm revolution. The controversy surrounding this style arose because bowlers began raising the point of release for the ball, which defied the traditional underhand delivery method and led to a substantial increase in bowling speed.1

This change sparked intense debate regarding the legality of the delivery. In 1835, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) attempted to resolve the tension by rephrasing the laws to permit the hand to be raised as high as the shoulder. However, many bowlers continued to raise their arms even higher in defiance of these regulations.1

The conflict reached a breaking point in 1862 when an England team protested an umpire's "no ball" call, highlighting the ongoing disagreement over whether bowlers should be allowed to exceed the shoulder-height limit. This eventually led to the 1864 decision to officially permit overhand bowling, a change that fundamentally altered the game by making it significantly more difficult for batsmen to judge the ball.1