Saqlain Mushtaq is credited with creating the ‘doosra’ delivery, adding to a list of Pakistani innovations in cricket including the batsman’s reverse-sweep and reverse-swing bowling, in a recent conversation, Mushtaq revealed how the term ‘doosra’ came to be.
Former Pakistan spin magician Saqlain Mushtaq was one of the best bowlers of his generation. Saqlain is credited with creating the ‘doosra’ delivery, adding to a list of Pakistani innovations in cricket including the batsman’s reverse-sweep and reverse-swing bowling.
The doosra, which means “the second one” in Urdu, turns from legside to offside — the opposite direction to orthodox off breaks. From former India spinner Harbhajan Singh to former Mushtaq’s compatriot, a few spinners mastered the skill of bowling the ‘doosra’.
In a recent conversation, Mushtaq revealed how the term ‘doosra’ came to be. He mentioned former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper-batter Moin Khan for it, adding how the latter used to plan his spells.
“The credit for giving the name the ‘doosra’ goes to Moin Khan. He was the wicketkeeper when I used to bowl. He used to say, ‘Saqi whenever I will ask you, then you have to bowl the doosra’. He would stand near the stump mic and his voice would go directly into the commentary box. From there, the commentators thought that the delivery is called the ‘doosra’. Now, this name is also there in the English dictionary, where it has also been defined,”
Mushtaq said on Nadir Ali’s podcast.
Mushtaq also recalled how he first picked up the ‘doosra’ while playing with his brothers on the terrace.
“There was a ground near my house, where Imran Khan used to play, and opposite that ground, Abdul Khadir played. I was young back then and heard about Imran Khan’s in-dipper and Abdul Khadir was known as a magician. So, I thought that even I should have a unique action of my own. When I started bowling, I used to play with my brothers on the terrace with a table-tennis ball. I used to practice new techniques of spin with the table tennis ball on my terrace and one day I noticed a very different turn in the ball. The delivery required a very different grip and a different position of the hand. From there, I got an idea that how I can spin the ball outside. Then I started practicing it on a tennis ball and later on, with a cricket ball. I even got some bruises on my fingers while practicing the doosra,”
he added.
Mushtaq played 49 Tests and 169 ODIs for Pakistan between 1995 and 2004, taking 208 Test and 288 ODI wickets.