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| Monday, 29 March 2004 |
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Muralitharan reported to ICC on new delivery by Sa'adi Thawfeeq Sri Lanka's top wicket-taker and third most successful bowler in the world Muttiah Muralitharan's bowling action was reported to the International Cricket Council (ICC) by match referee Chris Broad at the end of the three-Test series against Australia yesterday. In a statement to the media yesterday. Broad said that he had informed the Sri Lankan team management yesterday that a report has been lodged with the ICC on the bowling of Muralitharan, particularly when he bowls the new delivery that turns away from the right-handed batsman.
"The concern is that this ball maybe delivered with an action that is not in accordance with the laws of the game and accordingly I've submitted this report for further investigation. In making this report I would like to emphasise that it relates to his new delivery only," said Broad, a former England Test cricketer. "There were several occasions during the game that this delivery came to my attention." Under the ICC process Muralitharan will now work with his home board and an independent expert from the ICC panel within the next six weeks to establish if there is a flaw in this delivery and if so, to remedy it. At the end of this period a report will be submitted to the ICC on this work and it will be circulated to all match officials. Muralitharan will be free to continue playing in that period. Broad said the observation was made during this particular match and as a former player; he had become very aware of what's written in the media, but added: "I disregard an awful lot of that." Muralitharan has been bowling this new delivery (doosra) since the England series last November and two other ICC match referees Clive Lloyd and Mike Procter had not seen anything wrong with it. Broad in his first assignment as match referee has made a bold move by making a report on Muralitharan. "I've discussed with the match officials during the match and they are fully aware of this situation and as their leader I have taken this decision," said Broad. I informed the Sri Lankan manager first thing this morning when I arrived on the ground and I also had a discussion with Duleep Mendis, the CEO of SLC during lunch time. The SLC cricket authorities are fully aware of the situation. They were very understanding and not necessarily surprised and accepted the situation fully," he said. "As match referee we are empowered to look at anyone's action whenever we watch cricket therefore clearly I was aware there might be problems. It was a really a question of this match that came to my attention," Broad said. Muralitharan bowled 66.1 overs in the match and took eight wickets for 216 to take his career tally to 513 wickets from 88 Tests, seven short of breaking West Indian Courtney Walsh's world bowling record of 519 Test wickets. Broad's action amy deprive Muralitharan from breaking Walsh's world record in Zimbabwe where Sri Lanka are due to play in two Tests next month. Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne, the only other bowler in the running for Walsh's record failed to achieve the record during the final Test at the SSC. He took four wickets for 92 runs, which took his tally to 517 wickets. Muralitharan (32) broke into the international scene in 1992 against Australia and his career has been dogged by controversy over his bowling action. The two countries share a contentious history over the action of Muralitharan after his action first came under scrutiny when Australian umpire Darrel Hair called him for throwing in a Test match at Melbourne in 1995. On the same tour Ross Emerson, another Australian umpire called him in a World Series Cup one-day game at Brisbane even after he resorted to bowl leg-breaks. Four years later again in Australia, Emerson called him for throwing in a one-day international against England at Adelaide which nearly led to Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga leading his team off the field after having a one-to-one squabble with the umpire on the centre of the pitch. After the 1995-96 calling incident, the ICC thoroughly examined and exonerated Muralitharan's bowling techniques. At the start of the Sri Lanka-Australia one-day series last month the ICC said that it was taking new measures to deal with suspect bowling actions. While much of the focus has been fast bowlers, spinners were now coming under the spotlight. SLC said that they had already initiated action in co-ordination with the SLC cricket committee and the Bowling Review Group to work with Muralitharan in compliance with the process tha is in place. SLC said it will be requesting assistance of a member of the ICC Human Movement Panel to work with their Bowling Review Group in this regard. SLC will vigorously support Muralitharan through this process and are confident that he will continue to play for his country and clear any doubts with regard to his bowling action," the release said. |
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