How to Bowl a Doosra

"Doosra" means "the other one" in Urdu and Hindi. And that is exactly what it does — it is the delivery that does the opposite of what the batter expects from an off-spinner. Where a standard off-break turns from off to leg (into a right-handed batter), the doosra turns from leg to off (away from a right-hander), despite the bowler maintaining an off-spin bowling action.

Invented — or at least popularised — by Pakistan's Saqlain Mushtaq in the late 1990s, the doosra changed spin bowling forever. It gave off-spinners a weapon that previously only leg-spinners possessed: the ball that leaves the right-hander. When Muttiah Muralitharan added the doosra to his already devastating repertoire, he became virtually unplayable.

But the doosra comes with a significant caveat: it is extremely difficult to bowl legally. The ICC's 15-degree arm-extension limit has effectively made the pure doosra almost extinct in international cricket. This guide covers the technique honestly — including why most bowlers cannot bowl it without risking being called for an illegal action — and what alternatives exist.

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Why the Doosra Is So Effective

An off-spinner's standard delivery turns into the right-handed batter. After facing 4-5 off-breaks, the batter's brain expects the ball to come in. Their front foot goes towards the off side, their bat comes across to cover the turn. Then the doosra arrives — same action, same arm speed — but the ball turns away. The batter's bat is committed to the wrong line.

The result: outside edges to slip, bowled through the gate, stumped charging forward expecting an off-break that never arrives. Saqlain took 208 Test wickets and 288 ODI wickets in large part because batters could never be sure which way the ball would turn.

For context on off-spin basics, see our how to bowl off spin guide first.

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The Doosra Grip

The doosra grip is where the complexity begins:

Starting Position:

• Hold the ball with the same off-spin grip — index and middle fingers spread across the seam
• The seam runs horizontally across your fingers (like a normal off-break)
• Thumb rests lightly underneath

The Key Difference: At the point of delivery, instead of spinning the ball with a clockwise rotation (for a right-arm bowler), you spin it anti-clockwise. This requires the wrist and fingers to rotate in the opposite direction to a normal off-break.

Finger Mechanics:

• The index finger drives over the top of the ball
• The middle finger pulls the ball from underneath
• The wrist rotates from left to right (the reverse of off-spin)
• The back of the hand faces the batter at release (rather than the palm)

This is where the biomechanical challenge lies. To achieve this rotation while keeping the arm within the legal 15-degree extension limit, the bowler needs exceptional wrist flexibility and a unique shoulder rotation. Most bowlers instinctively straighten their arm to generate the reversed spin — which is illegal.

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The Legality Problem

The ICC permits a maximum of 15 degrees of arm extension during the bowling action. Studies have shown that bowling a doosra with a legal action is biomechanically possible but requires:

1. Hyper-flexible wrists — The wrist must rotate nearly 180 degrees from the off-spin position
2. Unique shoulder mechanics — The shoulder must rotate to compensate for the reversed wrist position
3. Lower arm speed — Most bowlers who bowl the doosra legally bowl it significantly slower than their stock delivery

Bowlers who were cleared to bowl the doosra:

• Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan) — the inventor, action was studied and cleared
• Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) — cleared after extensive biomechanical testing despite controversy
• Johan Botha (South Africa) — initially reported, later cleared with a modified action

Bowlers who were reported: Multiple off-spinners have been reported and subsequently banned or had to modify their actions after attempting the doosra. The delivery has effectively been regulated out of modern cricket for most bowlers.

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How to Practice the Doosra (Legally)

If you want to attempt the doosra, here is the practice pathway:

Step 1: Develop Wrist Flexibility

Before attempting the doosra with a cricket ball, spend 2-3 weeks developing wrist flexibility:

• Wrist rotation exercises (10 minutes daily)
• Holding a tennis ball and rotating the wrist through the full range of motion
• Squeezing and releasing a stress ball while rotating the wrist

Step 2: Tennis Ball Practice

• Use a tennis ball first (lighter, less strain on the wrist)
• From a standing position (no run-up), practice spinning the ball in the reverse direction
• Focus on the wrist position: back of hand facing the target at release
• Do NOT worry about accuracy — just achieve the reversed rotation

Step 3: Cricket Ball — Standing Start

• Use a cricket ball but bowl from a standing position
• Bowl into a net or against a wall
• Check: does the ball spin in the opposite direction to your off-break?
• If you feel your arm straightening, STOP. This is the danger zone

Step 4: Short Run-Up

• Add a 3-4 step run-up
• Bowl at 60-70% effort
• Have someone video your action from the side
• Check the video for arm straightening — be honest with yourself

Step 5: Full Action

• Only progress here if Steps 1-4 show a legal action
• Bowl in nets with a batter
• Ask for feedback: can they pick it?

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The Modern Alternative: The Carrom Ball

Because the doosra is so difficult to bowl legally, many modern off-spinners have adopted the carrom ball as an alternative. The carrom ball achieves a similar effect (turning away from the right-hander) but uses a completely different mechanism:

• The ball is flicked out of the front of the hand using the thumb and middle finger (like flicking a carrom coin)
• The arm action stays identical to a normal delivery
• There is no arm-extension issue
• Ravichandran Ashwin, Sunil Narine, and Ajantha Mendis have all used the carrom ball to devastating effect

The carrom ball is harder to control but completely legal and achievable with practice. For most aspiring off-spinners, the carrom ball is a more practical goal than the doosra.

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Famous Doosra Bowlers

Bowler	Era	Impact
Saqlain Mushtaq	1995-2004	Invented the doosra, 208 Test + 288 ODI wickets
Muttiah Muralitharan	1992-2011	Added doosra to become cricket's highest wicket-taker (800 Test, 534 ODI)
Harbhajan Singh	1998-2016	Used the doosra in India's famous 2001 Test series win vs Australia
Johan Botha	2005-2012	Bowled a modified doosra approved by ICC

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When to Use the Doosra in a Match

If you can bowl the doosra legally:

1. After 3-4 off-breaks — Set the batter up expecting the ball to turn in, then surprise them with the one going away
2. To a left-hander — The doosra turns INTO the left-hander, acting like a stock ball. The off-break becomes your surprise delivery
3. In the powerplay (T20s) — Batters looking to attack spin are vulnerable to the unexpected turn
4. On turning pitches — When the off-break is turning sharply, the doosra turns the other way with equal venom
5. To set up a stumping — Bowl 2-3 off-breaks drawing the batter forward, then bowl the doosra — they reach for a ball that isn't there

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Common Mistakes

1. Arm straightening — The most dangerous mistake. If you feel your elbow extending, you are bowling illegally. Stop and reassess
2. Telegraphing the grip — Some bowlers visibly change their grip before the doosra. A smart batter at the non-striker's end will spot this
3. Over-spinning — Trying to turn the doosra too much leads to loss of control. A slight turn (1-2 inches) is enough to beat the bat
4. Bowling it too often — The doosra's power is in surprise. Bowl it once every 2-3 overs maximum. If you bowl it every over, batters adjust
5. Neglecting the stock ball — The doosra only works if your off-break is already threatening. Focus 80% of your practice on the stock delivery

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Drills for the Doosra

Drill 1: The Wall Test

Bowl against a smooth wall from 10 metres. Mark where your off-break hits the wall after bouncing, then try the doosra. The ball should hit the wall on the OPPOSITE side. This confirms you are achieving reversed spin.

Drill 2: The Two-Ball Drill

Place two different coloured balls in front of you. Pick up the first and bowl an off-break. Pick up the second and bowl a doosra. The goal: your run-up, approach, and arm action should look identical to an observer. Film yourself and check.

Drill 3: Target Cones

Place a cone on off stump. Your off-break should turn TOWARDS the cone. Your doosra should turn AWAY from the cone. Track your accuracy over 10-ball sets.

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Video Resources

Here are curated video resources from reputable cricket coaching channels to help you master doosra bowling:

1. Doosra Bowling Technique - Advanced Off Spin

Watch on YouTube

• Channel: Spin Bowling Mastery
• Duration: 15:45
• Description: Detailed breakdown of doosra bowling with grip and release

2. Saqlain Mushtaq Doosra Legend Analysis

Watch on YouTube

• Channel: Cricket History Archive
• Duration: 13:20
• Description: Analysis of the doosra's inventor and his bowling mastery

3. Doosra Practice Drills and Progression

Watch on YouTube

• Channel: Cricketing Master Class
• Duration: 11:50
• Description: Step-by-step progression to master the doosra

4. Modern Doosra Variations

Watch on YouTube

• Channel: Spin Bowling Academy
• Duration: 10:30
• Description: How modern spinners are bowling the doosra

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FAQ

Is the doosra banned in cricket?

No, the doosra itself is not banned. However, the ICC's 15-degree arm-extension rule means that most bowlers cannot bowl it without exceeding the legal limit. If a bowler's action is reported and found to exceed 15 degrees when bowling the doosra, they will be banned from bowling it until their action is remediated.

What is the difference between a doosra and a googly?

A googly is a leg-spinner's variation that turns the opposite way (into the right-hander instead of away). A doosra is an off-spinner's variation that turns the opposite way (away from the right-hander instead of into them). Both achieve the "wrong-un" effect, but from different bowling styles with different mechanics.

Can I learn the doosra if I am a beginner?

It is strongly recommended that you master the standard off-break first. The doosra is an advanced variation that should only be attempted after you have consistent control of your stock delivery, a strong understanding of spin bowling mechanics, and sufficient wrist flexibility. Attempting the doosra too early often leads to a flawed basic action.

Who invented the doosra?

Saqlain Mushtaq of Pakistan is widely credited with inventing the doosra in the mid-1990s. He first used it in international cricket around 1996-97, and the delivery was named by his teammate — the word "doosra" meaning "the other one" in Urdu.

What is a good alternative to the doosra?

The carrom ball is the best modern alternative. It achieves a similar effect (turning away from the right-hander for an off-spinner) but is bowled by flicking the ball out of the front of the hand. Ravichandran Ashwin and Sunil Narine have shown that the carrom ball can be just as effective as the doosra.

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Related Guides

• How to Bowl Off Spin — Master the stock delivery first
• How to Bowl Leg Spin — The other side of spin bowling
• How to Play Cricket — Complete beginner's guide
• Cricket Glossary — All cricket terms explained
• Cricket Field Positions — Where to set your field for spin