KARACHI: Saeed Ajmal, who tortured England’s batsmen in Pakistan’s clean sweep of their three-test series, believes no one has yet been able to pick his mystery “teesra” ball.
The spinner was named man of the series after his 24 wickets having said before the UAE tests that he had developed the delivery especially for England.
“I used the “teesra” sparingly in the series and I don't think anyone has been able to spot it as yet and that makes it more dangerous,” Ajmal told the Pakistani “Ary News” channel on Tuesday.
“I will reveal which is the “teesra” delivery after the (one-day) series is over. Until then it remains a challenge for everyone to identify this ball in the coming one-dayers.”
Modest Ajmal refused to take the plaudits for humbling the world's top-ranked test side.
“I credit my captain (Misbahul Haq) for the success myself or Abdur Rehman (18 wickets) got in the series. He told us from the start that there would be spin pitches and he had confidence we could deliver,” Ajmal said.
“It felt good bowling in tandem with Rehman. There was less pressure on me. Our captain had planned out everything in detail like which bowler will bowl to which batsmen and so on and it worked beautifully.”
Ajmal said the clean sweep was a big moment for a team keen to make people forget the 2010 spot-fixing affair which rocked Pakistan cricket.
“I guess that scandal really hurt our pride and since then we have been trying to get better and better. Beating England 3-0 was like winning the World Cup for us,” Ajmal said.
COMMENTS (22)
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Please give your interviews in "Punjabi"
"spot the mystrey contest"
mystrey spotted- the ball came out of the hand at an angle of 23.5 degree, insted of 15 degree and "kissi ko pata bhi nahi chala"
@TangoMango ....
Boy Jeeta aap se ek match ni Jeeta, aur baat aap ne ese kar di jese India koi world champion hy ... My friend, grow up and see outside india whats happening with your team. Its better for you now to Just play with Ireland, Kenya or even Namibia to get back your number one position so you can then jump on your bed with excitement. Otherwise, with the other Test playing nations, you will get the same humiliation.
@TangoMango: you are so funny..LOL!!
@THE: FYI plz check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teesra
Why do we start finding role model in anyone who does something 'unusually' good?
Entire ENG-PAK match was played on a substandard wicket. I doubt whether Ajmal can repeat the same in Karachi or Lahore where wickets aid only good bowlers.
@TangoMango: Stop getting whitewashed every single series you play and then open your mouth or at least win ONE game, at least! Ask your players to man-up first before firing from your keyboard. Our Saqlain had the better of your senior citizens, remember Saqlain getting Sachin out and India losing? India can't win one game and you are talking big? People will only laugh. LOL.
Ahan its a case of The Emperors new clothes. The teesra and doosra are invisible to the incredibly stupid.
@TangoMango: India isn't in a position to say anything. The Australian grounds-keeper Lyon had the better of your famed batting line up.
what is more in the history of cricket only one country has boasted spinners who have troubled India in India.......it was Pakistan's tauseef and iqbal qasim in 1987 and saqlain ( two 10 wicket returns in two tests) in 1999.....so why can't ajmal do it....come on and we will see how your old horses with weak reflexes handle the doosra and teesras.....
@TangoMango: well you hit the nail on its head...may be unintentionally....you say "Fix a series with India and your ball will not only be spotted and hit and I am sure India will become nemesis for your career." just focus on word...."fix".....this will tell the story as to how Indian team became world no.1 without any world class bowlers..... truth comes out so easily.....
Fix a series with India and your ball will not only be spotted and hit and I am sure India will become nemesis for your career.
I tried to see what
s great about this so called "Teesra", but couldnt make out the difference. But i think Saqlain is one who got the Doosra`s right, and the reverse swing is by the Wasim Akram / Waqar Younus duo... Definitely, i believe Wasim Akram is THE Greatest in recent times. Shoab Akthar had the speed, but just the speed and not the variation like Akram.But, i think i didn`t find something really great with Ajmal but i believe the Indians and Lankans will be able to adopt quickly to this kind of bowling since they too have good spin bowlers like Harbhajan and Muralidharan.
Some Off Spinners have had suspect actions. From the early Pakistani Hasib Ahsan to Murali to now Ajmal all have been accused one time or the other. However, Ajmal should keep his action as clean as possible and then there would be no question about that.
Ajmal gave an interview to the BBC suggesting he bends his arm at 23.5 degress. He should stop giving out interviews without a translators. The english press is jumping to his interview as a defence to get him banned
@MAD: Our same ceturies old habbit ! Suspicion !!! Array Bhai, if the man says it, beleive him. But definitely it was a bit different from 'Doosra'. You may call it 2-1/2 for self satisfaction. (Just kidding, Aaaan).
Love the way Ajmal's playing with everyone's mind. Guys, there is no teesra!! You can google it. LOL
well he isnt humble about the teesra at all. I still dont think ite xists. Eitherway the english are stilll scratching their heads over the doosra
Humble and enjoys his and team's success....a great role-model, we love you Ajmal.