More effective scrutinizing needed to detect suspect bowling action, says ICC cricket committee

Sachithra Senanayake

The ICC cricket committee have called for more effective measures in detecting bowlers for illegal bowling actions after admitting that many current bowlers in international cricket bowl with an action that is not completely unquestionable. They also called for biomechanists to assist umpires to be more successful in dealing with suspect bowling actions.

"The committee discussed the issue of illegal bowling actions, and believed that there are a number of bowlers currently employing suspect actions in international cricket, and that the ICC's reporting and testing procedures are not adequately scrutinising these bowlers," the ICC said in a release.

The committee met at Bangalore on the 3rd and 4th of this month to discuss several issues including the ‘mankading’ issue that surfaced last week in England.

The ICC statement further read: "It recommended that changes be considered to encourage umpires and referees to identify suspect bowlers with greater confidence, to use the expertise of the biomechanists working in this area to assume a greater role during the assessment process, and to allow for ongoing scrutiny of bowlers once they have been identified under the ICC procedures."

Sachithra Senanayake was reported for a suspect bowling action during the 4th ODI against England. He was reported during his earlier tour of England as well, when he had travelled with the Sri Lankan A team. Shane Shillingford and Marlon Samuels of West Indies are still being scrutinized after being reported before. Saeed Ajmal was also suspected by Stuart Broad for which the Pakistani bowler asked for a clarification from ECB.

Under the existing procedure, the bowler is allowed to play until he is found violating the rules in the final results. As like every other bowler, Senanayake is to be keenly watched in a closed-door environment within 21 days of him being reported.

Illegal-action testing centres are to be opened in more countries in pursuit of better and rigid testing conditions. It has to be noted that Ravichandran Ashwin too attempted a varying bowling action with full-sleeves which many notable bowlers are using these days. He however turned back to his usual action after not being very successful with that.

"Members of the committee were also updated on the project to increase the number of illegal-action testing centres around the cricketing world, noting that Cardiff Metropolitan University was now accredited to conduct illegal action testing for the ICC, and that other facilities in India, Australia, England and South Africa were likely to be accredited over coming months," the release said.

The laboratories at the Universtiy of Western Australia in Perth alone have the provision for bowlers to undergo testing as of now, and the committee was informed of additional centres being sanctioned by the ICC.

In 2012, ICC made an alliance with Australia’s sports science and sports engineering institutions through Cricket Australia to work on wearable sensor technology. This was aimed at assisting the referees and umpires to be sure of the bowlers’ action that can also be used in training.

"The results of the trials were very encouraging, with the final stage of the project expected to conclude in 2016," the ICC's release said, without elaborating further on its results that was observed on 70 players in training sessions during the Under-19 World Cup held in UAE earlier this year.