SLC looking to get Kaushal's doosra cleared

Sri Lanka Cricket is looking into the possibility of having Tharindu Kaushal's doosra cleared, as the offspinner has now remodelled his action in his time away from international cricket.

Kaushal was reported for a suspect action after the SSC Test against India in August last year. Although there was little doubt about the legality of his stock offbreak, his elbow was found to exceed the permitted 15-degrees of flex in nine of the 18 doosras delivered in the biomechanical test.

Kaushal has since simplified his approach to the crease and worked on delivering the doosra with a straighter arm, while also adding a topspinner to his repertoire. There is the suggestion he maintains focus on delivering the offbreak and topspinner more accurately to the exclusion of the doosra, but SLC's high performance manager Simon Willis said the option of having the doosra cleared may be explored.

"Kaushal's been working really hard over the last four weeks - since I've been there," Willis said on Wednesday. "We've been working on a couple of little technical modifications that we hope can help him. We're convinced that his offspinner and his topspinner are in good shape. The only question is the doosra. Until we get that filmed - which actually we're going to do a little this afternoon - and see where the doosra is at, it's tough to tell."

Willis has also spearheaded the launch of a "Brain Centre" at SLC's headquarters, for purposes of research and development. It is hoped the Brain Centre will provide data and statistical analysis to the national team, a centralised database on domestic players, and also match footage of domestic cricket, which can then aid selection and development of players, as well as monitoring of playing surfaces and umpiring.

"I believe this potentially is going to have a massive impact on Sri Lankan cricket for years to come. Aravinda de Silva - the cricket consultant - has backed this 100%, and a lot of time and investment is going in here."