LEARN HOW TO BOWL THE DOOSRA OF SAEED AJMAL

LEARN HOW TO BOWL DOOSRA OF SAEED AJMAL

The first method involves bowling the ball with either a scrambled seam or perpendicular seam (i.e. the seam is more or less perpendicular to the direction of the ball's motion). Here's how to do it.

LOOK HOW TO BOWL A DOOSRA

SPLIT SCREEN OF HOW TO BOWL DOOSRA

1. 1
   Hold the ball like a fast bowler normally would, with the index and middle fingers on either side of the seam. For better ball control, the index finger should just about touch the seam. The thumb may rest on the ball but usually does not contribute to delivery. The remaining two fingers are used to hold the ball in place. The run-up involved in bowling the doosra is the same as in a normal off-break.
2. 1. Towards the end of rotation, position the bowling arm vertically and close to the head. Position the wrist at the highest point, the palm of the hand facing left (roughly towards the cover position). Just before release, bend the wrist inward. Deliver the ball by moving the index finger downwards over the ball, thus imparting overspin towards the direction of first slip or the point.

   Second Method

   The second method of the doosra is slightly harder to bowl, but when done correctly enables the bowler to drift the ball into a right-handed batsman (and away from a left-hander). The grip is the same for this type of doosra, the only thing that differs is the arm position and release.
   1. 1
      Position the arm away from the body (a 'slingy' rotation helps).
   2. 2
      Till the highest point of rotation the arm and wrist movement are similar to that of a regular off-break.
   3. 3
      Release the ball by quickly rotating or 'flicking' the wrist anticlockwise about a vertical axis so that the palm now faces backward, in the direction from batsman to bowler.
   4. 4
      Deliver the ball by straightening the index and middle fingers (spin is imparted by the flicking or rotation of the wrist).
   5. 5
      To get the ball to turn after pitching, point the index and middle fingers slightly leftward while releasing the ball.
3. 6
   By keeping the seam steady (from a lot of practice), drift (or swing) the ball from left to right.
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Method 1

This method is best if you want to use it as a surprise variation as the action is the same as the standard off-spin action and easier to hide from the batsman. Therefore, it is very effective in deceiving batsmen when they expect the ball to turn the other way. The drawback of this method is that the ball does not turn very much and is thus not as effective as a stock delivery. This is the method used by Saqlain Mustaq and Saeed Ajmal.

Grip

The grip for the doosra is identical to the standard off-spinner’s grip. The seam of the ball runs across the fingers and most of the spin is being imparted by the index and middle fingers. The ball should not be held too tight and the thumb should bend back to be out of the way.

Action

As you are using the doosra here as a stock ball, you must stick to your standard off-spinner's side on action.

Just Before Release

To disguise the doosra, follow a regular bowling action similar to bowling an off-spin delivery. Just before the time of the release, you will rotate the wrist so that the back of the hand faces square leg. Drop your shoulder (of the delivery arm) and bend the elbow a little more than during the standard off-break delivery. Your point of delivery will be a little lower than your off-spin stock delivery. Be careful not to straighten your arm during the release.

 

Figure 1: Off-Spin Doosra Wrist Position (Method #1) Back of hand faces towards mid-wicket and seam is angles towards 1st slip.

At Release

At the time of the release, the back of your hand should face towards square leg and your fingers should spin the ball similar to an off-break. The changed wrist position causes the ball to behave like a leg-break. This finger spin along with the rotation from the wrist and shoulder imparts the spin to leg-break.

The doosra can be bowled with plenty flight or as a quicker delivery just like the standard off spin.

Do not be fooled into thinking this is an easy delivery. Although it is most certainly not impossible as there are many examples of bowlers who can bowl this delivery. Work hard at bowling the doosra and you will also get there!

Method #2

This method is best if you want to use the doosra as your stock delivery as it will be very difficult to hide it as a variation delivery. The ball turns very bigger with this method if you get it right. It is not as effective for a surprise delivery as the action (at release of the ball) is quite different from the standard off-spin action.

AJMAL DOOSRA FULL TECHNIQUE

DOOSRA THAT AJMAL BOWLS IS REALLY DIFFICULT AND YOU SURELY NEEDS A LOT OF PRACTICE,