Essex coach Paul Grayson disappointed with English umpires not calling Saeed Ajmal during county season

Saeed Ajmal in action for Worcestershire

Essex head coach Paul Grayson has expressed his disappointment at English umpires not reporting Saeed Ajmal for chucking during the recently-concluded county season.

Ajmal played a defining role in Worcestershire gaining promotion to Division One of the County Championship, and Grayson was understandably frustrated as his side had a great chance of being promoted – having fallen eight points short of second-placed Worcestershire – had the umpires been brave enough to report the off-spinner.

The Pakistan overseas import helped Worcestershire to five victories and four draws in the season through his match-winning performances for the club, but he was reported during Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka shortly after his stint in England and has subsequently been suspended from bowling in international cricket.

"I wish one of our English umpires had the bravery to call him early season," Grayson said. "He's been called for chucking; it's illegal.

"Speaking to a lot of umpires on the circuit, they all talk about him chucking it, but whether they had that support from the ECB; I'm not sure why they weren't prepared to call him."

Essex stopped for the second time

Ajmal took 63 wickets at 16.47 for a middling Worcestershire outfit, thereby taking them almost to the cusp of the Division Two title before losing out to Hampshire in the closing stages.

"I've no doubt that if Worcestershire didn't have Ajmal, we would have gone up this year," Grayson told BBC Essex. "They've struggled in the second half of the season when he was supposed to be away with Pakistan.

"I don't want to sound like we're being bitter, but I do believe we should have gone up this year."

What would add to Grayson’s frustration is the fact that this is the second year in a row that Essex have finished third in the Division Two table, having had a chance of promotion going into the final round of games on both occasions.

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes, meanwhile, has said that they would happily welcome back Ajmal next season, provided he is cleared to bowl again by the ICC by then.