BANGALORE, 23 March 2005 — India’s Harbhajan Singh will bowl his ‘doosra’ in the third Test against Pakistan despite being called over the delivery for the second time in three months, coach John Wright has said.
The 24-year-old off spinner was reported to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for throwing on Sunday, just three weeks after being cleared following biomechanical tests in Australia.
“I was a bit surprised by the call,” Wright told reporters before a practice session at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the third and final Test starts tomorrow.
“We expect him to carry on bowling the way he has over the last 40-odd Tests. The doosra (a delivery turning away from the right-hander) is a very important part of his bowling and I’m sure it will be equally effective here.”
India leading the series 1-0 after winning the second match in Calcutta.
Wright said he was already in touch with experts in Perth, particularly Australian bowling coach Daryl Foster. “Harbhajan had 12 degrees on his doosra and eight on his off spinner. I don’t think he has much to worry about,” he added.
According to the ICC’s new rules, spinners are allowed to bend their elbow up to 15 degrees.
Harbhajan can continue to play until an independent analysis is conducted within the next 21 days.
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, however, felt the debate over Harbhajan’s action might benefit his team. “I think all the four wickets he got in Calcutta were with the doosra,” Woolmer said. “So in that sense it will benefit us if he is hesitant to bowl that delivery.”
But he did not feel Harbhajan was throwing.
“My opinion is that it’s a metamorphic change in cricket,” he said.
Stewart, Hussain Handed MCC Honor
In London, former England cricket captains Alec Stewart and Nasser Hussain have both become honorary life Members of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the owners of London’s Lord’s Cricket Ground announced yesterday.
Stewart is England’s most-capped cricketer; he played 133 Test matches and 170 One-Day Internationals before retiring after the final Test of the 2003 series against South Africa.
Hussain represented England in 96 Test matches and 88 One-Day Internationals; he retired from cricket after hitting a match-winning century against New Zealand at Lord’s last May.
Commenting on the news, Stewart said: “It is an honor to be given this recognition by MCC. The Club is the most historic in the world, with a very proud tradition. I am delighted to have been given lifetime membership of MCC.”
Hussain said: “I was thrilled to be made an Honorary Life Member. It is the greatest cricketing accolade I could receive.
