Archives

Bob Woolmer, ICC's high-performance manager, has joined former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding in being sceptical about Sri Lnaka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan's bowling action.

Woolmer however stopped short of a direct accusation of throwing.

"I agree ... that Muralitharan's action is false for a finger-spinner", said Woolmer. "He uses excessive wrist action which is only possible with a straightening of the arm. I doubt that his disability is the sole cause of his bowling action".

Woolmer suggested that the ICC's throwing committee took a more technical stance, by studying the actions of the new breed of offspinners.

"Harbhajan [Singh] and Saqlain [Mushtaq] wouldn't be able to bowl the away-going ball without bending the arm", he added.

There was, however, support for Murali and co. from Carl Hooper and Mudassar Nazar, the Pakistan coach.

"I just don't subscribe to Bishan's (Bedi) extreme views", said Mudassar. "If somebody is handicapped, you cannot tell him that he has no place in society".

An off-spinner himself, Hooper expressed admiration for Murali, Harbhajan and Saqlain.

"It took a year of concerted effort for Murali to master the away-going ball", he said. "At the end of the day it's the authorities who have to judge on the legality of the actions".

Holding and Bedi, the former Indian spinner have both accused Muralitharan of throwing in interviews to Wisden Cricket Asia magazine.

Holding said that he was in 110% agreement with Bedi's controversial opinions on chucking. Holding, a member of ICC's Advisory Panel on Illegal Deliveries, made his remarks in an interview in April's edition of Wisden Asia Cricket.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager