Saeed Ajmal ready to spin mystery ball for Pakistan in Test series against England in Dubai
From correspondents in Dubai, United Arab Emirates AAP January 16, 2012 11:17AM
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| Saeed Ajmal teesra |
Pakistan teammate Mohammad Hafeez describes as "unique" the "mystery ball" that Saeed Ajmal will unveil against England in the first Test in Dubai.
Ajmal, who took more Test wickets than any other bowler in 2011, with 50, declared in December that he would unveil a mystery delivery against England.
Hafeez said he had faced the off-spinner's delivery in the nets and had found it different.
"It's a bit different and he has worked a lot on this in the last six-eight months," Hafeez said.
"He has not bowled it internationally so it will be a bit different and exciting."
Hafeez, himself an off-spinner, refused to give more details.
"He has this new weapon and has command over it and has called it the 'teesra' ("third one")," Hafeez said of the ball.
Former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq invented a unique delivery that he named "doosra" (second one) - a ball bowled with the normal off-spin action but which turns the opposite way.
What do you think will distinguish the "teesra"? Leave a comment below to join the discussion.
Hafeez said Ajmal had improved his skills through this new delivery.
"Because of his extraordinary work (on the delivery) ... I must leave it for him to bowl rather than I reveal anything, and I wish him success in this delivery," Hafeez said.
"Every person has that ability to improve his skill, and he has done that.
"I don't know how difficult it will be for others. I have played him as a bowler for the last eight, nine years so it will be something new in cricket."
England batting coach Graham Gooch has played down the hype over Ajmal's mystery delivery, saying it was no concern for England's batsmen.
Hafeez said Pakistan had the edge over England in spin bowling.
"We have an edge in the spin bowling as our spinners - Ajmal and Abdul Rehman - are world-class bowlers, and conditions helped our slow bowlers here last year," he said.
Pakistan and England are each likely to play the first Test with two spinners, with Hafeez providing Pakistan an extra option in the slow bowling department.
England have off-spinner Graeme Swann and left-armer Monty Panesar, who geared up for the Test with an eight-wicket haul in a warm-up match that his team won on Friday.
Watch the first Test between Pakistan and England in Dubai, featuring the "Teesra", in High Definition on Fox Sports 3 from 10.45pm (EDT), from January 17.
Source: FOXsports.com.au
