Muralitharan points the finger at Aussie seamers

[Rangeela]

Muttiah Muralitharan has struck back after years of suspicion about the legality of his bowling action, by accusing three of Australia's leading pacemen of being chuckers.

Last week, an ICC panel announced that, after extensive studies of the actions of the leading bowlers in international cricket, up to 99% of fast bowlers occasionally exceed their permitted 10-degree leverage.

Murali, whose entire career has been clouded by accusations of an illegal action, has latched onto these findings, and in an interview with Melbourne's Radio Sport 927 he pointed the finger at three of Australia's finest ? Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee.

"McGrath is bowling about 13 [degrees], Gillespie about 12 and Brett Lee about 14 or 15," he said, "so what about them then, the Australian players? And what about other international players?"

Murali, whose world-record tally of 532 wickets was recently surpassed by Shane Warne, has endured a rough time at the hands of Australia's fans and umpires over the past decade. He has been no-balled for throwing twice, in 1995-96 and 1998-99, and earlier this year he declined to travel to Darwin and Cairns for a two-Test series, because of the abuse that he expected.

"The [Australian] people are not a problem, it is the cricket-playing people that are a problem, they are a little bit ignorant," added Murali. "When you perform well from an ordinary country rather than a big country, then people think there is something wrong. That's not my problem, they have to clarify themselves."

Unsurprisingly, Murali's comments did not go down well with Cricket Australia, which hit back in an official statement. "In standing behind the good name of current players such as McGrath, Gillespie and Lee, we call on all observers to examine the detail of the ICC's draft findings. This includes the ICC's own comment that it is false to suggest its expert bowling panel's work has labelled a number of great bowlers as chuckers."

? Wisden Cricinfo Ltd

 

[Jarryd]

If Dizzy and Pidgeon chuck then I'm a balemic midget. That is the most bullsh*t claim I've ever heard in my life. And who are you to accuse people of chucking, you were found to be bowling at 3 times the legal limit. Maybe you should worry about learning how to bowl legally

Warning: be careful of the language you use. - Shailesh

 

[T20]

none of the australians were in 1% who didn't chuck.

 

[angryangy]

He did pull the figures out of his bum though.

 

[brad352]

'I never called anyone a chucker' - Murali

Wisden Cricinfo staff
November 17, 2004

Muttiah Muralitharan has denied reports that he called Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee "chuckers" and said that his comments had been misinterpreted. Murali's comments about the pace trio had elicited strong reactions from members of the Australian team. But Murali refulted those claims by saying that he had been quoted out of context.

"I never called anyone a chucker," Murali told the Herald. "All I did was say that because 99% of bowlers have been found to extend their arms, if you are going to accuse me, then you have to look at everyone else. I have the right to say that because it is true that other bowlers extend. That is what science says."

During an interview on Melbourne's Radio Sport 927, Murali said that McGrath, Gillespie and Lee flexed their arms at 13, 12 and 14-15 degrees respectively. Murali claimed that he had been misrepresented and added, "All I said is that if you are accusing me of going over the level of tolerance, you have to look at your own bowlers, too."

Also, Murali predicted that his career would always be associated with such allegations, irrespective of whether tests cleared him or not. "I have been scrutinised more than any other bowler in the history of cricket. Why? I have done nothing to anybody. I never criticised people. I don't think anybody chucks."

? Wisden Cricinfo Ltd