The Teesra in Cricket: The Third Delivery of Saqlain Mushtaq
The teesra is a third variation delivered by Saqlain Mushtaq beyond his off-break and doosra. Learn what the teesra is, how it behaves, and why it remains mysterious.
What Is the Teesra?
The teesra (meaning 'third' in Urdu) is claimed to be a third variation beyond the doosra and off-break, bowled by Pakistan's Saqlain Mushtaq. While the off-break turns one way and the doosra turns the other, the teesra is said to go straight on with dip — confounding batters who have adjusted for the other two variations.
Saqlain Mushtaq's Mystery Spin
Saqlain Mushtaq was the pioneer of the doosra in the 1990s and claimed to have developed the teesra as an additional variation. He has demonstrated it in coaching sessions and interviews, describing it as a delivery that combines elements of the doosra's wrist position with a different finger action to produce straight-on dip.
Debate and Scepticism
Unlike the doosra, the teesra has not been extensively documented in match footage or biomechanical analysis. Some coaches and analysts believe Saqlain's 'teesra' is a refinement of existing variations rather than a fundamentally new delivery type. Others accept it as a unique grip-based variation that produces unpredictable movement.
Frequently asked questions
Is the teesra the same as the doosra?
No. The doosra turns from leg to off (opposite to the off-break). The teesra is claimed to go straight or dip without turning — a third variation beyond both the off-break and the doosra.
Has the teesra been bowled in international cricket?
Saqlain Mushtaq used deliveries described as the teesra in some international matches during his career. However, it is unclear how many of these were genuinely a distinct delivery versus a well-executed arm ball.