Closer look at the chucking malady
View(s):Remember, it was the great Sir Donald Bradman who as an administrator was determined to wipe out bowlers with illegal actions, once explained the vexed nature of the chucking issue by describing how two good men could have diametrically opposed views on the legality of one bowler.
Sri Lanka Cricket too has followed suit and the Sunday Times exchanged views with Ranjit Fernando — the Chairman of the Cricket Committee about the steps taken.
It must be mentioned that in the early times the concentration of illegal actions was focussed on the fast bowlers because there was a belief that they had an advantage of producing more speed and hard to pick up by the batsman when throwing and could cause injury to them. Although there was the odd spin bowler at that time who was reprimanded, it was Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan who in more recent times that drew most attention and flak. This was not something unexpected due to the phenomenal wicket taking ability he possessed. It is hardly likely that there would be anyone who would in the foreseeable future surpass his record.
Fortunately for Murali and cricket, the University of Western Australia had already done pioneering work on the subject of throwing and their bio-mechanists were able to prove that Muralitharan possessed a hyper-extended fore arm which created an illusion of throwing. At the same time other studies had also shown that a host of others, including quick bowlers who had thus far gone undetected, were bowling with an arm extension at ball release point close to 15 degrees and that figure was placed as the acceptable limit. Murali who also had the uncanny ability to rotate his wrist 360 degrees and extract much turn, was measured below that mark, and deemed to be legal and allowed to bowl.At the same time, it has been found that even without any hyper extension of the bowling arm, many young bowlers were copying the action of Murali and flouting the revised rule pertaining to legal bowling. This matter has been compounded by the fact that first class and International off spin bowlers too have innovated deliveries like the Doosra, Carrom Ball where their was high probability of an exaggerated extension of the arm, at point of release.
As a result alarm bells have already rung at the high echelons of the ICC and Boards all over the cricket world have committed themselves to take on suspect actions head on, at all levels of cricket once again.The Sunday Times asked Fernando to elaborate. First he agreed that it is indeed a tough call because very little has been about this malady through the years and “It is going to be very hard work, as our goal would be to make sure that every bowler playing cricket at school, club and national level has a legal delivery. As a legal delivery allows you a 15 degree extension at release point, we have also to be careful to see that bowlers under a 15 degree extension is allowed to bowl and also nurtured, since we may find spinners in particular in that category, very skillful and bowler’s for the future. We must make sure that we don’t throw the baby with the bath water. However believe that, if there is commitment amongst everyone, we could achieve our goal.
“It is a culture that has to be created mainly amongst the Coaches, Umpires and Match Officials to eradicate illegal actions. While the Cricket Committee is spearheading this issue, a Special Bowling Review Committee headed by Shabir Asgerally and consisting of Priya Paranavithana, Graeme Labrooy and supported by Jerome Jayaratne the Head of Coaching and Chandima Mapatuna Head of Umpires and Tyron Wijewardena have been appointed to overlook, monitor and handle the Operational side. A very comprehensive protocol has been drawn up, which will form the guidelines. I am well aware of the fact that this is something new to us and we are moving on unchartered territory and there would be grey areas. There may be criticisms too, but for the greater good of the International game, we must move forward and address any matters that come up, as we go on.”
When asked about the key aspects of suspect bowlers’ protocol Fernando explained “As you know, Umpires in today’s game, unless it is a blatantly intentional throw, rarely call a bowler in the middle of a game, and our protocol too is based on the guidelines used by the ICC. While an umpire reserves the right to call any bowler in the middle flouting the law, the general guideline would be one of Reporting and Remedying Bowlers with Suspect Actions. Umpires and Match Referees would have the authority to Report any bowler who in their opinion appear suspect.
“A player will have to subject himself for a test before 21 days from the date of reporting, and ideally the Coaching Department would make a screening and ruling within 10 days from the test. The Bowler would be permitted to bowl during the 21 days and until such time as a ruling is made. If a bowler is found to be exceeding the 15 degrees extension thresh hold, he will be immediately suspended from bowling and be expected to carry out remedial work under the guidance of the Coaching Department.
“A bowler once he has completed satisfactory remedial work, could apply for a fresh test and get himself cleared and resume bowling. This is the gist of the protocol, which of course is more detailed and also covers bowlers repeatedly suspended and also include penalties for Coaches too, if they have more than one player suspended. There would be separate protocols for club and school cricket appropriately drawn up.
Even at first class and International level, bowlers reported and remodelled will have to satisfy the selectors that they have not lost any of their former skills and guile with the corrected action, before they are included and resume their careers at the point they were reported. “One will have to be very strong in mind and determination too, to succeed. I hope the coaches, who ignored this terrible scenario, realize what damage they had done and make sure that it does not happen again.”
In answer to the important question of — Does Sri Lanka possess the necessary knowhow and facilities to combat this situation Fernando said “I have no doubt whatsoever that the SLC Coaching Department has the knowhow and the experience amongst their Coaches to undertake this challenge. Jerome Jayaratne, the Head of Coaching is well versed on this subject and is very competent to give leadership on the programme.
Coaches like Piyal Wijetunga, Roger Wijesuriya, Champaka Ramanayake and Anusha Samaranayake are all outstanding in this type of remedial work and we are well covered. I must however emphasize that the learning process cannot stand still and the Coaches all over the country have to be provided continuous learning, which has already started. I have been in touch with Jerome who accompanied Sachithra to Perth and the amount that he has learnt working with Darryl Foster in the short space of a week is considerable. Sri Lanka Cricket would be acquiring additional high speed cameras, to further supplement this work and with these in place, there is full confidence that Sri Lanka would not be lagging behind.”
Fernando also added “Running a fully fledged testing Centre to exactly evaluate the number of degrees a bowler does extend his arm at point of release for ICC requirements, would cost close to a million dollars with the buildings, staffing etc. but the good news is that already there are three centers now accredited by the ICC in Cardiff, Brisbane and Chennai. A few more are on the cards, with Laughborough next in line. We hope the costs would reduce and also that with Chennai the traveling costs etc. would be less and more convenient. I would imagine that in the long term, Sri Lanka too would look at a fully fledged testing Centre, which not only requires the infrastructure, but also need highly experience and qualified scientists in biomechanics.”
He said that the ideal time to carry out random tests would be to set up a panel to do the initial Study at the World Cup in Australia in 2015, accumulate the material and test the bowlers in the centers after that.Answering the question – Is the ICC system at present is foolproof Fernando said “We must not forget that what has been put in place by the ICC is only the end of the beginning. I am sure that there will not only be lot more new ideas, but the technology too in order to quickly identify the extent of extension of a bowler, bowling in a match in real time, may be invented. I am fairly convinced that the umpires and match referees under the present process would be fairly accurate in that, a bowler reported had exceeded the 15 degrees. My worry however is that there may be many bowlers that get through the net. These to my mind would be the faster types, and ideally it is my belief that a process should be put in place to have the bowlers in International Cricket (mainly the fast bowlers) randomly tested. If they stand the test, then cricket administrators could rest assured that their protocol is a fool proof one, but in the event the results showing that the 15 degrees had been exceed by some who look good and legal to the naked eye, then there is a case to revisit the matter and even increase the threshold.