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What’s wrong with ICC?
Why was'nt the tolerance level increased to 15 degrees?
By Marlon Fernandopulle
As Sri Lanka Cricket stepped up the pressure on the ICC over the Muralitharan "doosra" it has been revealed that ICC's high powered General Manager for Cricket David Richardson had made a strong recommendation through its Cricket Committee -management last year to the ICC to amend the levels of tolerance to 15 degrees for all bowlers. However, strangely this crucial recommendations by the ICC Cricket Committee - management never saw the light of day.

The four page confidential report titled Illegal bowling actions -Review of procedure has been prepared by David Richardson in August last year following discussions with two human movement scientists Marc Portus (Australia) and Dr. Paul Hurrion (UK), both of whom according to Richardson have extensive knowledge and specific experience in the subject of illegal bowling actions.

David Richardson in his report says that improvements in TV technology are now showing up the bowlers to a greater degree. For this reason, the naked eye should remain the starting point for any review of a suspect action.

It is therefore important that the levels of tolerance be adjusted to as far as possible to coincide with the point at which a bowlers action will begin to appear suspect. In this regard, pending future research on slow bowlers it is recommended that the level of tolerance be increased to 15 degrees for all types of bowlers.

The ICC document which is now in The Sunday Times custody reads as ( Para 4.4) The levels of tolerance, pending the outcome of the above research on spinners, as contained in the standard ICC analysis protocols be amended to 15 degrees for all bowlers

The ICC General Manager concludes the report with the recommendations that the ICC management be authorized to arrange research on the bowling actions of spin bowlers; and the levels of tolerance, pending the outcome of the above research on spinners, as contained in the ICC analysis protocols be amended to 15 degrees for all bowlers. While the research on the bowling actions of spinners has been arranged by the ICC during the forthcoming Champions Trophy in England, nothing has been done with regard to the raising of the tolerance levels.

The question that begs to be asked is how and why did this recommendation by the ICC General Manager David Richardson through its Cricket Committee- Management to the ICC get swept under the carpet?

The ICC Cricket committee -management is one of ICC's two cricket committees. It is composed of the Chief Executives of the ICC's 10 full member countries together with three representatives from Associate member countries. Its role is to deal with operational and management matters relating to the administration and operation of the game of cricket. It has decision making powers on certain issues relating to the business of cricket and on other issues provides recommendations to the ICC Board. ICC's human movement specialist Professor Bruce Elliot, Australian scientist Marc Portus, bowling advisor internationally acclaimed bowling Daryl Foster and now the ICC General Manager David Richardson have all echoed in one voice and urged the ICC to raise the current tolerance levels. What more instructions or evidence is the ICC waiting for!

Bedi is singing for his supper
Sri Lanka Cricket President Mohan de Silva has welcomed Muralitharan’s move to sue former Indian captain Bishan Singh Bedi for making adverse comments on the bowler. "We all know that Bedi is singing for his supper and I feel Muralitharan is correct in taking legal action against him", De Silva told a media briefing earlier this week.

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