BBC SPORT | CRICKET | Holding says Murali doubtful

International Cricket Council (ICC) bowling advisor Michael Holding has joined Bishen Bedi in casting doubt on the bowling action of Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan.

Holding, a member of ICC's Advisory Panel on Illegal Deliveries, said he was "in 110% agreement" with the former India spinner.

Bedii, who took 266 wickets for India, claimed last month that Muralitharan's action looked more like a javelin thrower than a bowler.

Rule 24.3

A ball is fairly delivered in respect of the arm if, once the bowler's arm has reached the level of the shoulder in the delivery swing, the elbow joint is not straightened partially or completely from that point until the ball has left the hand

This definition shall not debar a bowler from flexing or rotating the wrist in the delivery swing

"The laws are very specific," said Holding in the April issue of Wisden Cricket Asia magazine.

"A bowler's arm, once it gets to shoulder height, should stay straight until delivery.

"If it's bent, then it should remain bent to the same degree and should never alter. The law says nothing about hyper-extended bent or abnormal bent."

Muralitharan was cleared of throwing by the ICC in 1998 after video evidence showed his bowling arm is permanently bent due to a congenital deformity.

The same analysis, performed by the University of Western Australia, showed that Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar had a hyper-extensive elbow, meaning it bends back on itself.

Bedi 'deliberately controversial'

Members of the Sri Lankan team on Wednesday expressed dismay at Bedi's criticism of Muralitharan.

"Bedi's remarks are really disappointing and disturbing," Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya said.

Bishen Bedi
Bedi said Muralitharan resembled a 'javelin thrower'
"He should not have said that after Muralitharan's action was cleared by the International Cricket Council."

"It is an attempt to trigger disturbance for a bowler who has been performing excellently.

Muralitharan took 80 wickets in 12 Tests last year and became the fastest bowler to reach 400 wickets, achieving the milestone in 72 Tests.

Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore said Bedi's remarks were unwarranted.

"It disappointed us no end but Muralitharan is a great fighter and a great bowler so he would not be distracted by such remarks," Whatmore said.

And team manager Chandra Schaffer criticised Bedi for creating controversies.

"Not very many people take Bedi seriously, I think he thrives on controversies and that's his style," Schaffer said.

"I don't see any problems for Muralitharan in future as far as his bowling action is concerned."


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