The Doosra Explained — Spin Bowling's Most Deceptive Delivery
The doosra is an off-spinner's delivery that turns the opposite way — like a leg-break — while appearing identical to the stock ball. Learn what makes it so hard to detect, the bowling action controversy, and which bowlers made it famous.
The doosra (from the Urdu and Hindi for 'the other one' or 'the second one') is a delivery bowled by an off-spin bowler that turns from leg to off for a right-handed batter — the opposite direction to the stock off-break. It is designed to be indistinguishable from the stock delivery, making it one of cricket's most deceptive weapons.
How the doosra is bowled
An off-spinner's standard delivery imparts clockwise (from the bowler's perspective) top-spin by cutting the fingers over the top of the ball from right to left. The doosra reverses this: the ball is turned the other way by flipping the wrist and spinning the ball from left to right at the point of release. The grip looks identical to the stock delivery — both hands point upward at release — but the wrist rotation is reversed.
The illegal action controversy
The doosra has been at the centre of significant controversy regarding bowling actions. To generate the reverse spin using a legal straight-arm action (elbow extension below 15 degrees, as per ICC rules) is biomechanically very difficult. Biomechanics studies of famous doosra bowlers — including Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka), Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan), and Harbhajan Singh (India) — found that most bowlers who bowl the doosra legally exceed the 15-degree elbow-flexion limit when doing so. As a result, many bowlers have been reported for illegal actions specifically when using the doosra.
Who made the doosra famous?
Saqlain Mushtaq of Pakistan is widely credited with inventing the doosra in the mid-1990s, though he did not initially publicise its mechanics. Muttiah Muralitharan then elevated it to an art form, routinely dismissing batters who could not pick the variation. Johan Botha and Harbhajan Singh also used it, though both faced action-related scrutiny. Ajmal Saeed (Pakistan) had his action reported in 2014 specifically in relation to the doosra.
How to detect the doosra
Skilled batters look for wrist position at the point of release. A conventional off-break has the back of the hand facing the batter; the doosra should show the palm facing the batter — though elite bowlers disguise this extremely well. Other cues include a slightly higher arm trajectory and a different seam position. Most batters who face elite doosra bowlers report that they cannot reliably pick the variation until after the ball has turned.
Frequently asked questions
What is a doosra in cricket?
A doosra is a delivery by an off-spin bowler that turns in the opposite direction to the stock off-break — turning from leg to off for a right-handed batter. It is bowled with the same grip and release as the standard delivery to deceive the batter.
Who invented the doosra?
Saqlain Mushtaq of Pakistan is widely credited with inventing the doosra in the mid-1990s. Muttiah Muralitharan later became its most famous exponent, using it to devastating effect in Test cricket.
Why is the doosra controversial?
Biomechanics studies have shown that bowling a genuine doosra with a fully legal arm action (less than 15 degrees of elbow extension) is extremely difficult. Several bowlers have been reported for illegal actions specifically in relation to their doosra deliveries.