Doosra
1 dated anecdotes about Doosra, each attributed to its source.
Muralitharan’s 2004 Doosra and the ICC’s Legalisation
On a humid afternoon in 2004, Muttiah Muralitharan bowled a delivery that Wikipedia records was deemed illegal because his arm straightened up to 10 degrees during release. Wikipedia states that the doosra spins opposite to an off break, aiming to confuse the batter. Wikipedia explains that the delivery uses the index and ring fingers to spin the ball opposite to an off break. Wikipedia notes that Prince Aslam Khan invented the doosra and Saqlain Mushtaq popularized it. Wikipedia reports that Moin Khan named the delivery 'doosra' while keeping wicket for Saqlain Mushtaq. Wikipedia records that the term 'doosra' derives from Sanskrit 'dvisara', meaning 'two-stringed'. Wikipedia adds that the International Cricket Council changed the law in 2005 to allow up to 15 degrees of arm straightening. Wikipedia notes that Johan Botha was banned in 2006 for an illegal doosra action. Wikipedia records that Saeed Ajmal was banned in 2014 for illegal actions, ruling him out of the 2015 World Cup. Wikipedia states that Shoaib Malik underwent elbow surgery in 2006 to correct his bowling action. Wikipedia adds that Saqlain Mushtaq developed a variant called the teesra, a backspinner disguised as an off spinner, in 2004. Wikipedia reports that Rangana Herath gained recognition for bowling the doosra as a left-armer. Wikipedia notes that Moeen Ali became the first English spinner to bowl a doosra in an international match in 2014. Wikipedia records that Shohag Gazi was dropped from the national team after changing his action under ICC rules.