Crowe calls for Murali action review

WELLINGTON: Martin Crowe, the former New Zealand captain, has called for the International Cricket Council (ICC) to review Muttiah Muralitharan’s bowling action, specifically the doosra - the delivery that leaves the right-handed batsman.

Crowe suggested that Muralitharan needed to be monitored more often to ensure his arm was not flexing more than permitted.

According to Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan board (SLC) has prepared a full-bodied defence should the ICC hold an inquiry into the matter.

During Sri Lanka’s recent 217-run Test win at Wellington, Crowe, currently a television commentator, claimed Murali’s action deteriorated during a matchwinning spell on day four and needed to be reassessed.

Following the match, Crowe sent an e-mail detailing his concerns to the ICC. It was reported that he planned to include video footage.

“I have no worries over his off-spinner whatsoever,” Crowe told The Dominion Post, a New Zealand daily. “It’s the doosra which he now bowls more and more, often up to 50% in a given spell, which needs further clarification. His doosra was banned two years ago and I believe it needs consistent monitoring.”

Jayawardene came to Muralitharan’s defence. “It’s quite sad it’s gone this far. From a cricket point of view this is something that has to stop,” he said.

“It’s a ridiculous situation. Murali shouldn’t be penalised every time he takes 10 wickets. They (the SLC) will do a presentation to the ICC as well. If he (Crowe) wants to take it higher up ... depending on the outcome we will also react.”

Jayawardene added that Muralitharan would remain impervious to the latest round of criticism: “He’s fine, he has no problems and is just concentrating on cricket”.

John Reid, the former New Zealand captain who stood on the ICC illegal delivery panel that cleared Muralitharan six years ago, disagreed with his compatriot.

“He (Crowe) won’t believe these so-called experts who are the ICC illegal delivery panel. Murali’s also been passed by the biomechanists,” Reid said.

“Everyone thinks he has a bent elbow. He hasn’t, he can’t straighten his elbow. He’s got a double-jointed wrist like you wouldn’t believe.”

Workout for bowlers with suspect action

KARACHI: The PCB will carry out the second round of remedial workout for bowlers with suspect bowling actions at the NCA in Lahore next week. PCB announced that 15 bowlers have been asked to report at the NCA for the exercise that would be held from Dec 18 to 23. A total of 22 bowlers with suspect bowling actions were suspended by the PCB from bowling in domestic competitions and were instructed through local regional development officials to report to respective regional head coaches for the first phase of remedial workout to improve their bowling actions.
Only 15 bowlers reported to their respective head coaches during the first phase while two other bowlers informed the authorities that they had decided not to carry on with bowling in the future.
Now the second phase of remedial workout would be carried out by the 15 bowlers for a week. After the completion of this exercise, an analysis report of each bowler will be prepared with the help of Quintic Biomechanics Software and will be presented to Suspect Bowling Action Committee for review and verdict.
Pakistan have suffered in recent years because of suspect bowling actions of some of their leading bowlers.
Medium pacer Shabbir Ahmed was banned for a year after being reported twice in 2005 for illegal bowling action. Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and all-rounder Shoaib Malik also had problems with their bowling actions in the past.
The PCB prepared a comprehensive plan for curbing this problem earlier this year.
Following is the list of bowlers asked to report at the NCA: Zaheer Aslam, Aqeel Ahmed, Tariq Mehmood, Ihsan Sheikh, Ahmed Naseem, Nadeem Javed, Asad Zahid, Munir Ansari, Noor ul Amin, Misbah Khan, Aftab Ahmed Khan, Noman Hussain, Irfanuddin, Mudasar Manzoor†and Agha Sharique.