KARACHI: Responding to his Australian counterpart’s remarks, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Selector Iqbal Qasim backed the use and learning of the doosra, terming the delivery as legitimate after being cleared by the game’s governing body.
Australia national selector John Inverarity recently reignited the debate on the legality of doosra, a deceptive leg-spinner bowled with an off-spinning action.
Since former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq invented the delivery, various former cricketers and analysts have questioned the delivery, urging it cannot be bowled without playing with the boundaries of the 15-degree threshold rule for elbow flexion.
George Bailey, who captained Australia at the World Twenty20, stressed spinners of his country needed to learn the art but Inverarity declared it a matter of ‘integrity’ for Cricket Australia.
“It’s a serious issue. We’ve got to keep our integrity. We’ve got to teach our bowlers to bowl properly,” he commented.
However, Qasim, a former left arm spinner, was in disagreement.
‘It’s a question of integrity when it violates rules,” the chief selector told The Express Tribune. “This delivery is being bowled within the confined limits. I don’t think the International Cricket Council (ICC) would have allowed it if it was crossing the limits. It is as simple as that. The bowlers who use the delivery have passed tests involving the biomechanics. I don’t feel the doosra is illegitimate.”
Qasim, a veteran of 50 Tests and 15 One-Day Internationals, said the delivery has become a need of the hour for spinners all around the world.
“This delivery has become vital. Spinners should learn the art as modern day cricket demands more innovation. The doosra has been fruitful for the bowlers who have learned it and know how to use it effectively.”
Former Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was a great exponent, while Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal has used the delivery to great effect as well.
Meanwhile, a former cricketer termed Inverarity’s comment a bid to dismantle the Asian off-spinners who, he believed, have mastered the art.
“It’s not the first time we have heard something against the doosra,” he said.
“The bowlers have cleared their action many times so why raise the point repeatedly now.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2012.
COMMENTS (8)
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why always australis point out asia bowler,s .they should learn from asian bowler,s how to bowl dosra.
grapes are sour
It has been always on the Australian agenda to discredit south asian cricketers in way or the other, once again their cheap tactics have come to the fore front
It will become an "art" when Australians start bowling doosra
"grapes are sour", that really sums up agony an frustration of Aussies!
@Jawad Hussain Ashwin doesn't bowl a doosra.. Its caled a Carrom ball
Fawad, you forgot to mention Indian spinners Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin who also are great exponents of this doosra. Aussies don't really have the ground to stand amid fast-changing cricket ethics and techniques and they have resorted to dent reputation of the world-class spinners.
Tell me even a single Aussie spinner who can bowl even good off-spin bowling. No one! Literally, no one!