
India8217;s ace off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has no problem if his doosra 8212; the off-spinner8217;s version of a googly 8212; is analysed along with the one bowled by Pakistan8217;s Saqlain Mushtaq and Shoaib Malik and Sri Lanka8217;s Muttiah Muralitharan, but says the exercise would prove futile.
Harbhajan was reacting to a report that Daryl Foster, heading the four-man University of Western Australia UWA team that conducted tests on Murali to correct his bowling action recently, had suggested a comparative study of the bowlers who bowl the doosra to check the legality of the delivery.
8216;8216;Without knowing what the situation is with the other spin bowlers, it would seem unrealistic to ban Murali8217;s doosra without the benefit of proper research having been undertaken into 8216;normal8217; spin bowlers,8217;8217; Foster was quoted as saying in his 8216;coaches8217; perspective8217; column of the UWA expert8217;s report probing into Murali8217;s action.
However, Harbhajan feels any such study for purposes of comparison will be nothing but a waste of time. 8216;8216;It is not possible. Comparing my delivery to that of Muralitharan, Saqlain, or for that matter, John Emburey, will be of no use. Everyone has a different style of delivering it and it is beyond comparison,8217;8217; the off-spinner told The Indian Express today.
The UWA report also mentioned that the expert committee has found that Muralitharan was straightening his arm at 14 degrees while bowling the doosra which is 8216;8216;nine degrees in excess8217;8217; of what is permissible by the International Cricket Council ICC, something about which Harbhajan has no idea.
8216;8216;I don8217;t know what it is all about. I have never really got into this stuff,8217;8217; he said.