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ICC bans Tharindu Kaushal from bowling the 'Doosra'

Kaushal remains a vital cog in the recuperating Sri Lankan bowling attack

Promising Sri Lanka spinner Tharindu Kaushal’s doosra has been found to be illegal but the silver lining for the offspinner is that he can continue bowling his off-breaks, reports ESPNcricinfo.

The test conducted on his bowling action at the Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, India, revealed that Kaushal’s elbow flux was comfortably within the mandatory 15-degree level and almost half of his doosras were found to eclipse that prescribed limit.

The youngster who reminds observers of the fabled Muttiah Muralitharan was called for supsect action, following the conclusion of the Test series vs India at home. He had picked up 13 wickets from 3 matches at an average of 38 and could not stem the flow of runs as Sri Lanka lost the series 1-2 to the visitors.

The biomechanical test had taken place in the presence of 3 biomechanists, a sports physician and an independent bowling coach and it involved the use of specialized motion-capture system and 2 rapid cameras.

During the test, Kaushal was required to provide 12 trials from over the wicket and 6 trials from around the wicket for each delivery. While the evaluators were largely satisfied with the overall results, a few of the trials were rejected as he did not adhere to his usual line and length.

Almost half of the 18 doosra deliveries that he bowled were found to exceed the permitted 15-degree. The elbow extension was evaluated to be in the range between 12 degrees and 21 degrees with the average augmentation at 16 degrees.

The Sri Lankan team management had been quietly optimistic that Kaushal would be cleared to bowl his conventional offbreaks. But, they were worried about the legality of his doosra. The doosra was also the central worry when the umpires mentioned the apparent flexion in his bowling arm after the third Test at SSC ended.

This was highlighted when his workload got increased as the match went on. The Sri Lanka coaching team would have been prepared to accept the fact that the youngster’s doosra might not be cleared.

Their future course of action will be interesting to watch since the doosra is an important part of Kaushal’s armoury, particularly the one which he bowls from the back of his hand.

If he were to work on his doosra, he may have to participate in another biomechanical test. Until then, he is not allowed to bowl the delivery in any international cricket. The test results could be a significant complication for the think-tank who have invested a lot in the mystery spinner.

Kaushal who has scalped 24 wickets from 6 Tests at an average of 42, is likely to remain in the selectors’ radar for the upcoming Test series against the visiting West Indies team. The 2 Test matches which begin from October 14 are scheduled at the Galle and P Sara Oval.

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