Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja yesterday pleaded with cricket’s law makers to save the controversial “doosra” delivery, saying it provides a new dimension to the batsmen-dominated game.
The “doosra” – a delivery which turns the other way than the normal off-break – has come under greater scrutiny as bowlers straighten their bowling arm beyond 15 degrees, the permitted point under the International Cricket Council (ICC) rules.
The ICC has launched a crackdown recently with as many as three bowlers suspended – including top ranked one-day bowler Saeed Ajmal of Pakistan – for illegal bowling actions. Ajmal is undergoing remedial work on his action under Saqlain Mushtaq, regarded as the inventor of the “doosra”.
Raja said the delivery is an art which should be saved. “Save the doosra because it is an exciting delivery,” Raja said. “My stance is that the rules of the game have become so lop-sided and 70-30 in favour of the batsmen so bowlers need new deliveries. The doosra is not physically threatening. It tests the skills of batsmen so even if needed some relaxation, like 18-20 degrees, should be allowed.”
Raja said reverse swing also came into being because bowlers needed help on dry batting pitches. “The birth of reverse swing came as bowlers were struggling on dead tracks in the sub-continent and initially it was also treated as something controversial but now it has been adopted by every team,” he said.