Expert reopens debate on Murali's action

[Rangeela]

The man who cleared Muttiah Muralitharan's bowling action five years ago has reopened the debate by questioning the legality of Murali's new doosra.

Bruce Elliott, a professor at the University of Western Australia, and a member of the International Cricket Council's committee which investigates suspect actions, said that Murali's new ball, which behaves very much as a legbreak would, is questionable.

"With the doosra, what I'm suggesting is that when a finger-spinner wants to rotate the wrist to come over the top of the ball it seems difficult not to straighten the arm - but I won't say it's impossible," Elliott told the Sydney Morning Herald. "The doosra fits into the category that says 'danger'."

And Elliott warned that any illegal actions have to be stamped out immediately, otherwise they are quickly copied by youngsters. "There's no doubt that children on the subcontinent are trying to emulate Murali. On the subcontinent they learn more by watching. If kids are trying to bowl like Murali then, yes, there's danger. The million-dollar question is whether they are straightening the arm. If you keep it bent or even flex it, it's still illegal.

"If you extend up with the arm you'll get more over-rotation on the ball. For a spinner, that's a huge advantage. That, by definition, is illegal. If you keep your arm bent, you can use the big rotator muscles in the shoulder, which are geared for throwing."

Elliott's comments are sure to arouse anger in Sri Lanka, but they come in the light of recent remarks by ICC officials that spinners will be more under the spotlight whereas in the past it was fast bowlers who attracted attention. The desire to clamp down was reinforced when it emerged that six players in the recent Under-19 World Cup had been reported as having suspicious actions.

"I'm sure the ICC is becoming more concerned," Elliott explained. "And I don't think it's unfair to say that it is in direct response to that concern [young players mimicking established stars]. Because most people don't have his physical characteristics, and they will revert to actually extending the arm."

? Wisden Cricinfo Ltd

 

[Rangeela]

Muttiah Muralitharan has again been reported to the ICC for having a suspect action. Chris Broad, the former England batsman who is the match referee for the Test series between Sri Lanka and Australia that finished today, has reported that in his opinion the action with which Muralitharan delivers the doosra - his "wrong'un" that turns from leg to off - is not legitimate.

Ajit Jayasekara, the Sri Lankan team's administrative manager, explained: "At the start of play I was called to the match referee's office, and Chris Broad told me that he had some bad news - he would be reporting Murali for the ball that goes the other way.

"We broke the news to the team and Murali only at the end of the day's play. He was disappointed, and very down, but Murali does not think that he has a problem with his delivery."

Muralitharan's action has been the subject of endless debate over the years. He sufferes from a congenital condition that means he cannot fully straighten his elbow - but the relevant laws permit this as long as the arm stays in the same position throughout the delivery and the elbow isn't flexed.

Murali was called for throwing in Australia in 1995-96, but later had his action cleared by biomechanical experts from the University of Western Australia. Significantly, however, one of those same experts recently cast doubt on the legitimacy of the doosra - a delivery Muralitharan has only mastered recently - saying that it needed investigation as it might constitute a throw.

? Wisden Cricinfo Ltd

 

[Radaga]

here is a pick of Muralitharan bowling:

 

[Jarryd]

About time too, i was walking past the tv during the series and i just caught a glance of some guy bowling (it ended up being murali) and i just said "he threw that"