Filed under Cricket Controversies

Like Duckworth lewis method, illegal bowling action is an aspect of cricket not very many people understand. If you want to dig deep, refer to icc official website to download pdf on both of these rules and regulations associated with them.

But in short, a bowler can't extend his forearm more than 15 degrees from an angle with his upper arm and straight body position. Some bowlers do it all the time while some are found guilty when they bowl specific deliveries like Doosra (an off-spinners delivery) and Googly (a leg spinner delivery).

ICC rule says a bowler has to go under tests within 21 days from being reported and footage of match where he last bowled are sent to labodaroty for analysis. Near match situation is made and bowlers under test bowl half naked so that real bowling action can be recorded. If found troublesome, bowler has to change his bowling action or not bowl that perticular delivery at all.

Over the years, several bowlers have been reported for illegal bowling action, starting with Muthiah Muralitharan and Harbhajan Singh who was first in last 10 years (in 1998) and then Shoaib Akhtar in year 1999.

Jermanie Lawson of West Indies and Shabbir Ahmed of Pakistan (both fast bowlers) never played again after being reported in year 2003 and 2005 respectively while Shoaib Mallik came out with changed action to bowl in International cricket again. Brett Lee is the only Australian in the list while Mohammad Hafeez makes it to the list as 4th Pakistani bowler reported for bad action in year 2006.

Abdur Razzak, the bangladeshi left arm spinner went into 4 months rehabilitation to make a comeback in June 2009 while Johan Botha and Saeed Ajmal are the latest victims.

Interestingly, 6 off-spinners have been reported in last 10 years while not a single leg spinner came under scrutiny. probably, its the 'doosra' delivery where ball goes spins leg to off which has caused most problem as per ICC correct bowling action regulation.

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