Which cricketer is closely associated with popularizing the leg glance?

Ranjitsinhji is the cricketer closely associated with popularizing the leg glance.

The leg glance redirects a ball delivered on or near the batter’s legs toward the fine-leg boundary. Ranjitsinhji, an Indian prince who played first-class cricket in England, made the stroke famous in the 1890s by playing it with remarkable delicacy and control.

He probably developed the shot around 1892 while practising with fellow Cambridge cricketer William Hayward. His unusual technique challenged the orthodox batting methods of Victorian cricket. Although other players may have attempted similar flicks earlier, Ranjitsinhji used the stroke with unprecedented effectiveness, making it a celebrated part of his batting style.

The answer is sometimes confused with the inventors or great practitioners of other cricket strokes. Ranjitsinhji did not necessarily invent the leg glance, but his association with and influence on the shot are why he is the canonical quiz answer.