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 | | Thursday, 4 October, 2001, 16:23 GMT 17:23 UK Tough times for Kirtley  Kirtley is convinced his action is clean James Kirtley, the England paceman at the centre of 'chucking' allegations, faces an anxious few days in Zimbabwe. The match referee who questioned his action on Wednesday night will look at video footage of the Sussex paceman in action in Harare on Wednesday. The official, Colonel Naushad Ali, will also be watching him bowl - if England feel Kirtley is ready to continue playing - when the two teams meet again on Saturday. But amid vehement support for the 26-year-old back in England, an uneasy silence has descended over the touring squad's camp in Zimbabwe. This is partly because Ali is yet to contact the England management or the bowler himself.
Indeed, the whole system appears to be acting in reverse. According to ICC regulations, it is normal practice for umpires to first report a suspect player to the match referee in writing. The senior coach at Sussex, Peter Moores, said Kirtley should be "backed to the hilt" by England. The defence is that he has an excessively flexible elbow, which can lead some umpires to believe the arm is being illegally straightened during the final part of delivery. The condition, known as "hyperextension," has also dogged the leading Pakistani paceman Shoaib Akhtar. Moores said Kirtley has been "extensively examined" and proof was obtained that his elbow did not move. In fine form Kirtley looked sharp on Wednesday and took two good wickets. But he has been the victim of similar claims of 'chucking' before - in New Zealand in 1999 on a tour with England A.
On the eve of the tour to Zimbabwe, Kirtley explained: "I have hyperextension in my elbow, which I've had since a kid. "My mum's a physiotherapist and she would tell you that I have it in all my joints." And when the news from Harare broke, he insisted: "I will not be losing any sleep over this. "Yesterday was a happy day for me after making my England debut and taking a couple of wickets." By Thursday evening, there was no news on whether Ali had consulted umpires Ian Robinson and Russell Tiffin.
Kirtley, who writes an exclusive diary from Zimbabwe for BBC Sport Online, was also backed by Darren Gough. The Yorkshire fast bowler, who is resting back in England, said: "He's been cleared so he should be allowed to get on with his bowling. "I use my wrist when I bowl. It's an important part of a fast bowler's make-up - it can add an extra two or three miles-per-hour to a delivery." Nothing official John Carr, director of ECB operations, told BBC Sport Online: "Our bowling review group in November 2000 cleared Kirtley in line with provisions of rule 24.3. "No bowler can be given clearance for life. Actions can change and bowlers can change. "At the moment we've had no confirmation of a report having been made to the ICC and until we hear that the matter's at an end." | |
  Thrown into chaos  England's fresh options See also: Other top Cricket stories:  Links to more Cricket stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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