Teesra (Urdu: تیسرا) is a cricket delivery that was invented by Pakistani off spinner Saqlain Mushtaq. The term comes from the Urdu (and Hindi) word which means "(the) third (one)". Mushtaq has also been credited with inventing the doosra, which is an off-spinner's googly (a leg break). The teesra is the equivalent of the topspin for an off spinner.
This delivery was in development for a long time but Saqlain Mushtaq finally used it to good effect during a Tour Match match Sussex vs. Indians in July 2007. With the teesra, he was able to dismiss VVS Laxman, who was on 95, and India promptly declared.
The following is a description from cricinfo.com's live commentary of this match:
Saqlain deceives Laxman with a peach of a doosra. It floated in on the off and middle, landed on a length and Laxman went forward to defend. Suddenly, much to his horror, the ball kicked up alarmingly even as it deviated away, took the shoulder of the bat and went to slip.
The Indians have declared at the fall of Laxman's wicket. Laxman was knocked off by a deadly combo of doosra and extra bounce.
Use in computer cricket games According to EA Sports' Cricket 07 computer game, the teesra is an off-spinner's delivery which starts off like a normal off break ball but, after release, drifts slowly in to the batsman before pitching and turning at an angle while picking up speed and bouncing higher than a normal delivery. This is particularly useful if bowled just away from a right handed batsman's off stump, as he would often be unprepared and may play the shot too late.
Source *Rediff article
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