Proteas spinner Botha can play, but cannot bowl his Doosra'

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Cape Town (S. Africa), May 12 (ANI): Proteas' off-spinner Johan Botha has received the green light to play again, but has not been given permission to bowl his variety of "Doosra".

Botha was recently cited for his bowling action, but tests in Australia found that, with one exception, there is no problem. The exception is Botha's doosra, the delivery that turns away from the right-hand batsmen. He has been banned from bowling this delivery.

Botha was cited in the recent one-day series against Australia and he underwent the tests at the University of Western Australia in Perth. Had he been found guilty of chucking, he would have been suspended for a year.

Botha is a very important member of the Proteas' one-day and Twenty20 sides and his ability to slow the tempo is one of the reasons for the Proteas' recent successes in the abbreviated versions of the game, reports Sports 24.

Since 2007, he has established himself as one of the top one-day bowlers in the world and his absence would have left an enormous void in the Proteas' attack.

Botha did not want to comment on Monday before being officially informed of the outcome of the tests.

However, South African assistant coach Vincent Barnes, who has been working hard on Botha's action the last few weeks, was over the moon.

"We were confident that he was not chucking, but it's still a relief. Now we can concentrate on the Twenty20 World Cup," he said.

Proteas coach Mickey Arthur said he was also relieved. He does not believe the banning of Botha's doosra will be damaging. (ANI)