Are they right to voice their doubts?

Since his public criticism of Sri Lankan spinner Murali Muralitharan's action, Adam Gilchrist has faced the wrath of the Australian Cricket Board.

The authorities charged the Australia vice-captain with making comments "detrimental to the interests of the game".

And now England's Mark Butcher has claimed in a newspaper column that Ruchira Perera "runs up and throws it at you".

The repentant Butcher has tried to distance himself from the remarks, but could still be charged with breaching the England and Wales Cricket Board's code of conduct.

Should cricketers maintain a respectful silence over the actions of their fellow pros?

As a good batsman, he should not comment like this. In the ICC, there are so many geniuses. They can decide what is wrong and what is right. Murali has been given the green signal from the ICC so it means his action is OK for international cricket.
Asad, India

I've got an idea for the ICC - punish any player that so much as opens his mouth (even at private functions) and allow chucking. Simple solution! Hang on...that's seems to be their stance already!
Rob, Australia

Pity the poor umpire who is charged with calling every ball, regardless of previous investigations. How do they "square the circle"?
Alan Murphy, UK

Technically he is throwing the ball. It is irrelevant if he cannot help it. Either he should correct his action, not bowl or have the cricket laws changed to cater for hyper-extended elbows and the like. Anyone that has ever tried off spin can attest to the fact that you cannot bowl the "other one" the way MM does without throwing it.

It has never been done before. He will go down in history by the purists is the leading wicket taker but a chucker nonetheless. He has an unfair advantage compared to people without hyper-extended elbows!
Anand Reddy, Kiwi in London

I think players should stick to playing. The remarks of both men were fairly irresponsible. The ECB should sanction Butcher, who should focus on maintaining his fine form.
Bam Jero, Ireland

Of course it is right to question an illegal action. Bedi, Holding, Gilchrist, Butcher and Hare are all correct. It is the abject timidity of the cricket authorities, no doubt running scared of being accused of discrimination, that is at fault. It is an odd world where respected sportsmen are vilified and then gagged by their own authorities simply for speaking the truth.
Dave Mallett, UK

Those who accuse Gilchrist of racism are committing the same illogicality as Gilchrist himself - accusing without substance. The ICC has cleared Murali, so Gilchrist's views are irrelevant.

There is no evidence to suggest that Gilchrist was singling out Murali on account of his race, so to suggest otherwise is equally fatuous. He can exercise his right to freedom of expression, and we can exercise our right to disagree or ignore him - that's what a free country means.
james wilson, UK/NZ

I can't believe Gilchrist has been disciplined for saying what he thinks! If Murali had said that "Gilchrist isn't a textbook batsman" would he have been censured? Probably not...... Murali throws the ball, everyone knows it, but the powers that be just deny it and wash their hands of the problem.
Stuart Marriott, England

Gilchrist is a great player with no brains. His comments show their double standards. Murali is playing according to ICC rules not according to Australians'.
Justin Lambert, Australia

Murali is the greatest spin bowler ever to play the game - it's a privilege to watch him. By the time he finishes playing the game, he will have taken over 600 wickets and set a world record.
Parakrama Dias, UK

Gilchrist's full comments, as reported, were articulate and well considered, and I thought very fair. It comes to something when players are not allowed to express views at all. The ineffectual cricket authorities are victims of their own inaction against a whole breed of chuckers in the game.
Andy Brown, UK

He has played for an English county, picking up 60-odd wickets, without a mumble from the pundits. But repeatedly prior to important contests, and when he is a threat to the 'top' teams, the music begins. The same goes for Aktar from Pakistan and perhaps the Indian Singh, if he gets more wickets. Then can you blame the Asians for being suspicious of the cricketing powers?
John, The Netherlands

Anyone who has seen Murali, Brett Lee and Shoab sideways on can be in no doubt that they all occasionally chuck the ball. It is about time that players with suspect actions were properly dealt with, irrespective of nationality or creed. It does nothing but bring dishonour on the game.
William, Sydney

Murali is without doubt one of the greatest bowlers ever, a fact that the English cannot seem to grasp or comprehend, perhaps bearing in mind that their own team is talentless and hopelessly inept, without a single world class bowler or batsman.
Sarfraz Karim, UK

Murali may well chuck the ball, but Gilchrist should have been more careful with what he said. They may be his, and I daresay alot of others, personal opinions but he should not have declared them so publicly. His comments about other bowlers from that region are somewhat generalised and definitely ill-advised. What I find annoying is perceived opinion that the rest of the cricketing world is against Sri Lanka and Asian teams in general. Stop being so pathetic!
Joel Hockley, UK

Adam Gilchrist's comment shows how a gentleman's game of cricket has been made into a psychological warfare by Australia. Everyone must have noticed that Australia has time and again used this 'weapon' to discredit/destroy top class cricketers from the subcontinent!
Ram Baboo, India/USA

Why should people have to stop having opinions just because it might upset a fellow cricketer, cricketing board or cricketing fans? The ICC cleared him - that means he can continue to bowl but not that we can't voice our opinion.
Richard Ellis, UK

Gilchrist should shut up and concentrate on playing. We've been through all this already and the authorities have cleared Murali's action. This sort of comment does the game no good at all.
Kim Miles, England

Of course Gilchrist should be able to make comments on Murali's action. No one is calling him a cheat but he does sometimes "straighten" his arm, albeit not fully, which is a throw.
Chris, England

Gilchrist is a great player. It does not behove him to cast doubts or undermine another great player. In the end, it's the game that suffers. People like Shoaib, Murali and Brett Lee are assets to the game and should not be undermined. Let the custodians of the game look after such matters.
Sarfraz Ali, Malta

Gilchrist made comments in what he thought was a private domain - it's not like he made them in a press conference. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. It's unfortunate that this will now be blown out of proportion and reflect badly on both players.
Sarah, Australia

Murali is a great bowler and will down as perhaps the greatest bowler of all time. Having said that, I think Gilchrist has a right to express his views, which do have some foundation. Perhaps my fellow countrymen should stop castigating Gilchrist (who incidentally is the world's best batsman) and listen to what he is saying.
Venkat Jasriya, Sri Lanka

The whole matter seems laughable to me. Adam sees the 'fine line' & 'technology' factor in the case of Brett Lee but not for Murali. Grow up man!
Vijay Mohan, India

No bowler after being called once is free from scrutiny again. But people quickly forget that Murali is the only bowler who has undergone two extensive Bio-Mechanical Tests - one in Australia and one in Honk Kong and cleared by both.
Rikaz Sheriff, Sri Lanka

A distinction should always be made with the traditional determination of a chucker being someone that pings it and the definition as espoused in the laws of the game being the straightening of the bent arm. Under the technical version of the laws Murali creates a 'throw'.
Wayne, Australia

Murali is NOT immune from his action ever being reported again. If I am cleared of a crime by a court of law, that does not mean I can never be convicted at any time in the future.
Mike Price, Australia

Without wanting to enter into an in-depth discussion of what constitutes a throw, simply having a bent arm does not mean it is a 'chuck'. I'm sure the Sri Lankans would admit that Murali's arm is indeed bent, but the issue is whether it straightens or not. That is obviously a more subtle distinction and one that Matthew is yet to comprehend.
Sam, UK

Every person who has an opinion should be allowed to express it without the charge of racism or jealousy.
Doug Cooper, UK

Gilchrist should be severly punished.
Jayantha Perera, Sri Lanka

Why are people like Gilchrist still suspicious of Murlali's action after it had been cleared by ICC using the best technology available? Is it that they do not want to see this man from a poor nation become the greatest bowler who ever played this game? By making these false allegations you cheat your conscience and you cheat the game. Give Murali the credit he deserves.
Santhusitha Vithanage, Canada

Gilchrist just has the guts to say what the majority of players think. The guy is a blatant chucker, so what if he can't straighten his arm properly? If I had Tourettes Syndrome I'd still be a compulsive swearer.
Tony Lock, Surrey, England

Whoever claims Murali is a chucker has the audacity and arrogance to question the technology and authority of the ICC. Until Brett Lee is cleared by the governing body (as opposed to the seemingly all-knowing Australian and British public), we may well claim he is illegal. It would be interesting if he were from the Indian sub-continent.
Niomal, Australia

Murali should file a defamation case against Gilchrist. Murali has been cleared after extensive research on his bowling action. It is unfair and a shame for the game of cricket that a brilliant player should be tormented like this!
Shekar, USA/India

Gilchrist is right, Murali does chuck the ball. But to say that players in the sub-continent are suspect is a bit rich coming from an Aussie, especially one who 'keeps to Brett Lee's occasional chuckers.

Given that James Kirtley also throws the ball, as Darren Gough looks like he is doing, sometimes there is no special region which produces chuckers. Just as there is no region where match-fixing is immune.

Maybe Adam is still upset about losing to a third-rate Indian team. Or is Gilchrist only saying this because Murali chucks it better than Brett Lee?
Rehan, UK

Why is it that every time a bowler from the sub-continent is accused of having a questionable action you all cry racist? Or worse, it is because we are all envious of the bowler in question. The Australians in particular have nothing to fear.

They have proved time and time again that they are the best and when one of their players has a problem (Brett Lee), they deal with it minus all the sanctimonious rubbish that is spouted every time a Sri Lankan is questioned.

I agree with the earlier comment that MM will always be questioned because of his 'other one'. Just get it fixed!
Jo, UK

Apparently cricket fans' attitudes towards freedom of speech is dictated by the country from which they hail.
Matthew Parsons, USA

Why is it that whenever a bowler starts to destroy other teams' batting line ups the Australians shoot thier mouths off about it? The same happened to Shoaib Akhtar and this is the second time it's happened to Murali.

It's all 'sour grapes'. Gilchrist just can't admit his beloved Shane Warne is not number one in the world. What's wrong Adam? Does the truth hurt?
Kasun De Silva, UK

Some of these Sri Lankan fans should grow up and stop playing the race card. England's James Kirtley was called for throwing in Zimbabwe and spent the winter remodelling his action. No complaints from Kirtley, none from the England camp.
Graham, UK

Gilchrist can say whatever he believes. Just because he has said it doesn't make it true and most people are intelligent enough to realise this.
Ed, UK

Murali has been thoroughly investigated by the ICC and cleared. That is the end of the matter. Murali should stop being the nice guy and sue Gilchrist and any one else who implies that he is illegal.
Gihan, Canada

Gilchrist's comments suggest that he represents the ACB, so he must be severely warned and punished for his attitude.
Uthara, UK

Who is Gilchrist to comment on the action of Murali? He has been cleared by the ICC and is one of the most feared spinners in the world.
Sanjiv Paul, India

Murali has a bent arm when he bowls. Regardless of what the reason is behind the bent arm, Gilchrist is right.
Matthew Knowles, UK

Gilchrist has just echoed what many have been thinking for a long time. Muttiah does not "chuck" every ball, however the one that he gets to turn the "other way" is always suspect. Why can't Adam comment on this?

Why protect Muttiah? He is a great bowler, why not help him so that he will be remembered for his wickets not his bowling action? For some reason, the cricket authorities have made this a taboo subject!
Luke, UK

Why is it that it is only Indian sub continent players that are "chuckers"? He who lives in a glasshouse should not throw the first stone!
Rosy, Sri Lanka

It's high time somebody in the game said something. I have never been convinced that Murali's action is legal. The cricket authorities seem afraid to say anything about chucking in case they upset somebody. If nothing is done soon, then cricket will deteriorate into endemic cheating the same way that football has.
Mick Ames, England

Gilchrist is wrong. Murali has being playing international Cricket for more than 10 years all over the world. Why only in Australia and England all these allegations? Is it because Sri Lanka is a small country from Asia and now a major cricketing nation?
L Ananda, Canada

How is Gilchrist more of an expert than three panels with the latest technology who all ruled that Murali doesn't chuck? How is he more of an expert than Dennis Lilee who understands what hyper-extended elbows are and even clarified the issue on a talk show in Australia? People like Gilchrist don't do any proper research and just shoot straight from the hip without thinking.
Siddhartha Shivshankar, India (USA)

Gilchrist's comments are bigoted to say the least. The cricketing world should take every step to end this type of shenanigans. Murali is not a chucker
Ravi Randeniya, Canada