It’s no doosra, but spin great Muttiah Muralidaran has revealed his newest pupil Nathan Lyon will be ready to unleash the “carrom ball” delivery on Pakistan in the UAE.
Muralidaran will be sending down doosra after doosra to the Australian batsmen in the nets as part of his new role as a coaching consultant for the tour in October.
But he maintains the mystery delivery that made him the No.1 Test wicket-taker of all time is too difficult to teach Lyon.
Instead, the pair are in Sri Lanka working hard on the finger-spinning carrom ball – and Muralidaran believes Lyon will be able to use it as a weapon against Pakistan.
Few players have copped as much abuse from Australian cricket fans over the years as Muralidaran – due to his controversial bowling action.
Even (then) prime minister John Howard labelled Muralidaran a “chucker”.
But the Sri Lankan legend says there’s no hard feelings and he’s not surprised Darren Lehmann has approached him to help the No.1 Test team get even better.
Having opened his bag of tricks to Lyon, Muralidaran says the 26-year-old is the long-term answer for Australia.
“For a country like Australia, you don’t need many spinners. You need to get the right one. I think Nathan Lyon is the answer – for any format,” he said.
“He spins the ball and he’s confident and he has taken more than 100 wickets in Test cricket. He’s proved himself.
“The doosra is very difficult to teach because he’s a finger spinner and I’m a wrist spinner.
“We’re trying something else – the carrom ball.
“I think he’d be ready and bowl that in the UAE, but he’ll master it in years to come.”
Australia’s struggles in sub-continent conditions prompted Lehmann and Michael Clarke to make contact with Muralidaran through his friend and Australian team physio Alex Kountouris.
The 42-year-old will assist Australia’s batsmen by bowling to them in the nets – preparing them for Pakistan’s doosra master Saeed Ajmal.
Muralidaran says he never had an issue with Australia as a country, and sees his short-term role as just another chance to put back into the game.
“I don’t have any hard feelings because of what has happened,” he said.
“That … (was) all about individuals only that shouted at me – that is a different case.
“The Australian public was always kind to me – maybe five per cent were against me.
“I didn’t have any hatred on anybody.”
dubblebubble
Guest
Nope. We passed them a little while ago.
dave
Guest
+chucker
xavialonso
Guest
Warne = Legend + Wanker Murali = Legend + Decent human being + Class act.
soapit
Guest
you can say it all you like james but it wont make it true. similar to how all the facts in the workd wont change your mind on this i suspect, but ur right, he's been a class act and is still giving oz the beneft of the doubt it seem despite still copping the type considering the type of ignorance we see in the posts above.
Claude Bottom
Guest
Murali is and always has been a class act.
Fatman
Guest
Now that's a move that demonstrates the character of the man. To help the country that you copped so much stick from with regards to his cricket (and still do - me included as I still think they changed the law to accommodate his action) - wow! I'm sure Lyon will only benefit from that kind of human being working with him.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
He's a very competitive character and a great student of the game, can only do Lyon good to work with him
Jeznez
Guest
By the way, we aren't the number 1 test nation are we? Thought SA still had the ranking.
Jeznez
Guest
Yep, pretty classy by Murali. Good on him
Antiwhippy
Guest
Except that murali is successful both overseas and at home, unlike ashwin who is pretty poor in non-subcontinent conditions.
jameswm
Roar Guru
What a terrific fella. After what he's copped over here (and I still say the law was changed to make him legal), he's put all that behind him to help an Aussie. Got to respect the guy at a personal level, big time. Also I'd say his doosra was responsible for maybe 10% of his wickets. He was a fierce spinner of the ball, and that got him most of his wickets. Same for Ashwin I might add.
Silver Sovereign
Guest
Lyon is already a decent thrower of the ball. I don't see anything that Murali can add
Graham Sanyo
Guest
Why don't they be done with it and get an NBL pitcher to work with our quicks as well.
Axle an the guru
Guest
Offcause his number one ball is to difficult to teach Lyon. Lyon dont throw the ball.
ak
Roar Guru
Lyon will learn carrom ball. Then doosra. Then no problem. Then many will start saying that doosra is perfectly legal.