Tuesday, 28 May 2002 |
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ACB charges Gilchrist over Muralitharan comments MELBOURNE, Monday, (Reuters) - Australia vice-captain Adam Gilchrist has been charged with making public comment detrimental to the interests of cricket, the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) announced on Monday. Gilchrist had said Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan's bowling action was technically not within the rules. However, Gilchrist added he had no problem with Muralitharan and also said some people would have their doubts about other bowlers, including Australia fast bowler Brett Lee. The world's top-ranked batsman, speaking at an Australian Rules football pre-match function in Melbourne, was asked if the Sri Lankan's controversial bowling action was illegal and replied: "Yes". "I think he does (throw)," The Age newspaper reported Gilchrist as saying. "I say that because if you read the laws of the game, there's no doubt in my mind that he and many others throughout cricket history have." ACB chief executive James Sutherland said: "After reading the statements attributed to Adam, I rang him and asked him to provide me with more details about the accuracy of the comments and how they came to be in the public domain. "After considering Adam's explanation, I have issued a charge under the ACB code of behaviour." "An ACB Commissioner will determine whether Adam's comments are in breach of the code." Muralitharan, whose unique action mixes finger spin with wrist rotation, has taken 412 wickets in 73 tests. The world's leading bowler for the past two seasons, he was called for throwing by Australian umpire Darrell Hair on Boxing Day of the 1995 Melbourne test. He was also called on his next visit to Australia. The affair caused a furore before the International Cricket Council cleared Muralitharan after he was filmed from all angles with high-speed cameras. It was announced that the bowler had a permanently bent arm which gave the illusion of throwing. His action, however, has remained under the spotlight. |
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