From the man himself: Don’t imitate my style

Our coach’s main intention was to help our main off-spinner gain some tips from the bowler but all of us made use of the opportunity. The first words that we heard Murali speak were,“Please don try to imitate my action,” only to add later,“I have developed my action due to a deformity in my arm and not everybody can bowl off-spin using wrist.”

Once the action began,Murali said to our main off-spinner,“Okay,show me how you grip the ball.” When the youngster displayed his grip,Murali interrupted and taught him the right way. “The gap between your index finger and the middle finger should be wide so that you get a firm grip of the ball. This will help you give extra revolutions to the ball. As you are finger spinners,learn to observe Harbhajan’s bowling and note how he delivers the ball from a high arm position. It helps him find both spin and jump,” he explained.

It has been four years since then but the next four minutes of my life are as fresh in my mind as if it occurred yesterday. He intended to demonstrate how finger spin should be bowled and looking for some help he signaled for me to keep the wickets. He bowled three balls,just the way a normal off spinner releases the ball but I was surprised to find so much improvisation in his bowling. The incredible part was that his deliveries used to kick after pitching. Though the evening was getting darker,I was enjoying keeping wickets to him. It was as close as I could ever get to playing him as a batsman.

He then stopped to advise. “If you want to be a world class spin bowler,bowl as much as you can. Spend hours bowling on a single wicket so that the spot starts coming naturally to you. Whenever I am low with my bowling,I practice a lot of single wicket stuff.”

The Doosra

After he was done with the basics,it was time for the doosra. “I have two styles to bowl the doosra. I can deliver it on seam as well as with the scrambled seam. And I decide that according to the situation.” He shared the finer nuances with the boys but advised them to first perfect off spin bowling. “The doosra can be developed later.”

The loosener was a usual off spinner. The second ball was the doosra which traveled much quickly than the former. By that time,I started feeling confident,thinking that if this is the way this guy bowls,I can play him easily. But the next ball was the real turner. He bowled with the same intensity but this time it spun like a leg spinner,beating me all ends up.