In cricket, which bowler is famous for the "doosra"?
VerifiedAnswer: Saqlain Mushtaq
Explanation:
Saqlain Mushtaq, the Pakistani off-spinner, is widely credited as the inventor and master of the famous "doosra" delivery. This revolutionary bowling technique transformed modern spin bowling and became one of the most talked-about deliveries in cricket history.
The word "doosra" comes from Hindi/Urdu and literally means "the other one" or "the second one." This name perfectly describes what the delivery does - it's the opposite of what a traditional off-spinner bowls. While a normal off-break spins from off to leg for a right-handed batsman, the doosra spins in the opposite direction, from leg to off, like a leg-spinner's delivery but bowled with an off-spinner's action.
Saqlain developed this delivery in the mid-1990s and used it to devastating effect throughout his international career. He made his debut for Pakistan in 1995 and quickly became known for his ability to deceive batsmen with this mystery ball. The beauty of the doosra lies in the fact that it's bowled with almost the same action as a regular off-break, making it nearly impossible for batsmen to pick from the bowler's hand.
During his career, Saqlain took 208 Test wickets and 288 ODI wickets, with the doosra being his most potent weapon. He was particularly effective in one-day cricket, where batsmen had less time to read his variations. The delivery helped him become the fastest bowler to reach 100 ODI wickets at that time.
The technical aspect of bowling the doosra involves using the back of the hand and fingers to impart the reverse spin. However, this technique has been controversial because it often requires a slight straightening of the elbow, which can push the boundaries of legal bowling actions as defined by cricket's governing body.
After Saqlain introduced the doosra, several other spinners tried to master this delivery, including Harbhajan Singh, Saeed Ajmal, and Sunil Narine. However, none could execute it with the same consistency and effectiveness as its creator. Saqlain's contribution to cricket goes beyond just this one delivery - he revolutionized off-spin bowling and inspired a generation of spinners to think creatively about their craft.
