Murali: Unsolved Mystery Continues

[chinaman]

Murali 'to keep on bowling'

Muttiah Muralitharan is likely to carry on bowling for Sri Lanka whatever the findings of Australian scientists investigating his 'doosra' delivery.

Some reports suggest the new delivery, a ball which spins away from a right-handed batsmen, will officially be declared illegal.

However Muralitharan will still be entitled to bowl.

Initial findings have made their way from Perth, Australia, to the ICC offices via Cricket Sri Lanka.

An ICC spokesman said: "Officials can still call a no-ball."

The studies are alleged to show Murali straightens his arm while bowling the doosra - the ball that turns the opposite way from his regular off-spinner - by about 10 degrees.

That is double the legal limit for slow bowlers imposed throughout international cricket.

Further unconfirmed reports suggest Bruce Elliott, the man at the University of Western Australia who supervised the tests, has called for Murali to be given licence to bowl freely until further detailed checks have been carried out.

The ICC has accepted there is a need for further research by biomechanists after a study showed 99% of bowlers straightened their elbows in delivery, some by up to 20 degrees.

Under their own laws, the worst case scenario for Murali is that he will be allowed to play freely for six weeks whatever the findings, before undergoing remedial work.

But it may be that more time is needed by the biomechanists to study the science of slow bowling, giving the Sri Lankan even more of a 'window' of time in which to carry on taking wickets.

He currently has 513 Test wickets, four less he world record holder, former West Indies fast bowler Courtney Ambrose.

BBC >>

Opening this new thread about Murali since the mystery still continues on despite the earlier impression that his action was really legal - chinaman

[Tintin]

Have you seen any mention of how much he bends the arm for his normal delivery ?

[chinaman]

No. But I guess it would be less than 5 degrees since no one calls him for that now.

Anyway those degree things were some what arbitrary as it is based on the speed of the delivered ball and not on the speed of the arm that delivers it. ICC has some built-in problems here!

[chinaman]

Cricket should stop jumping on Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and start learning from him, Australian coach John Buchanan has said.

Muralitharan's 'doosra' delivery, which spins away from the right-handers instead of coming into them like a normal off-break, has been deemed illegal under International Cricket Council (ICC) rules.

But Australian biomechanics experts reportedly say Murali should be allowed to keeping bowling the doosra until further research is conducted on the issue of throwing among slow bowlers.

Bruce Elliott, who led the biomechanics team which tested Muralitharan's bowling action in Perth, wants the ICC to allow spinners to extend their arm by ten degrees instead of the current limit of five, which would make Muralitharan's doosra legal.

Former Australian Test batsman Dean Jones strongly disagrees with Muralitharan being allowed to continue bowling.

"By my interpretation, I think he throws it," Jones said on Tuesday.

"That's nothing against him personally or nothing against Sri Lanka, but we've got to do something about it and do something quick."

But Test coach Buchanan has a more lenient view on Murali's bowling.

After closely watching Muralitharan bowling during Australia's recent tour of Sri Lanka, Buchanan said he was an incredibly exciting bowler whose strong points should be used as a model to help revolutionise the art of spin bowling.

"My view on Murali is much the same as a lot of other people -- I think the ICC made their decision on him some time ago," said Buchanan, in reference to Muralitharan's action being cleared in the past.

"Personally, with his new delivery, I'm not sure it's significantly different to what he's done before.

"I think we should look at Murali and look at what we can learn from him.

"Let's look at how he uses his wrist and fingers to spin the ball the way he does instead of being so quick to jump on him.

"Part of the way forward in this game is to recognise the innovative and creative things players like Murali and Shane Warne and even Adam Gilchrist do when he's batting, and work out how to use them in the future.

"Murali and Shane are probably the two best spinners the game has ever seen. Why wouldn't we want to study them and take from them what we can?"

AFP / Yahoo >>

[FaltuRidwanBhai]

jaihok,
aro akbar kintu bekosur khalash pelen murali. tobe khalash tar pawari kotha chilo. khamakha nirdosh manushke jail a bondi kore rakhar kintu kono manai hoi na. i hope murali is not going to be distracted by all the inconvinence he is facing. i hope it is not going to have any impact on his career. he should not worry. he should keep on with his dusra. dannabad.

[chinaman]

Originally posted by FaltuRidwanBhai
.. bekosur khalash ..

Not so fast. He was found to have illegal action. Now, the law that makes it illegal is itself arbitrary. Hence the call for a change in the law to make it legal.

[chinaman]

Muttiah Muralitharan risks being banned from cricket for 12 months if his action is reported by umpires or match referees in the remainder of this year.

The Sri Lankan's 'doosra' delivery is under scrutiny after he was reported during the series with Australia.

If he is reported again in 2004 the International Cricket Council will convene its own Bowling Review Group.

It has the power to impose a ban of up to 12 months should it determine that Muralitharan's action is illegal.

The University of Western Australia has analysed Muralitharan's action on behalf of Sri Lanka Cricket, who were obliged to act after he was reported by Chris Broad in the third Test.

The ICC's procedure for dealing with suspect actions allow SLC a period of six weeks to address any flaws.

At this stage, any decision or action arising from the investigation is the responsibility of SLC.

The ICC will only act should Muralitharan be reported again, and it would then have the power to suspend him.

BBC >>

[abhs]

Circkect 365 has the report with a different heading-

Murali's doosra gets the red light
Action breaks ICC laws

[acbizz]

The ICC has effectively blackballed Muttiah Muralitharan's doosra, confirming that they are not about to increase the permitted five-degree tolerance level for spin bowlers to accommodate Muralitharan, and warned that he risks being reported and possibly banned if he continues to use the delivery.

>>crickinfo.com

This is a disgraceful incident for cricket. Here ICC is ruling over the scientists. But Bruce Elliott, the ICC-approved biomechanics expert who carried out the testing on Muralitharan's action, has strongly criticised the current thresholds, which he claims are based on "illogical data". Currently, fast bowlers (10 degrees) are allowed to bend their arms twice as much as spinners (five degrees).
"Most assuredly the five degrees [rule] is based on illogical data because they've just tested fast bowlers and assumed that there is some relationship between fast bowlers and spin bowlers," Elliott told reporters. "Fifteen degrees is the right angle to select for fast bowlers and you probably should come down to 10 degrees for spin bowlers."

This is nothing but the conspiracy. I feel bad for this great bowler. Banning his “doosra” is clearly a bias decision.


[Edited on 22-4-2004 by acbizz]

[Navarene]

I think cricket changed the rules far more significantly when they introduced overarm bowling, it was met with outrage at the time but is now seen as a progression of the game. Shoaib Malik and James Kirtley physically throw the ball but havent been reported. (Kirtley was, but nothing changed). I'm not saying Elliott should make laws but why are the ICC being selective in which experts they listen to? Warne should not have been banned as he wasnt gaining any unfair advantage. Common sense should be used, these guys are the 2 greatest spinners ever, they dont need to cheat to do well and why would they put their reputation at jeopardy?

Murali cant straighten his arm but he relies more on his super flexible wrist to impart extra spin on the ball and he is also very clever in out-thinking batsmen, he made Thorpe look stupid in Sri Lanka. He isnt the only bowler whose elbow has a bend, Brett Lee is a lot worse as are Akhtar, Shoaib Malik and Kirtley. Why single Murali out? He isnt a chucker anyway, the rules should be changed, its not just to accommodate Murali but all off spinners who use doosra.

More off spinners are working on the doosra. Daniel Vettori said it cant be bowled legally. Well why just single out Murali? Why not change the rules to accommodate the doosra, move with the times and go forward? Otherwise off spin will die.

[chinaman]

If the media reportings are to believe, then there are quite a few interesting developments about Murali. May be even some pointers to the end of an illustrious career?

1. Murali's doosra was found illegal in the lab.

2. An outcry to make immediate changes in the "rule" to accomodate spinners like Murali.
3. ICC not ready to make such changes at the moment though reportedly it has been conducting some research to address the issue.

4. Sri Lankan authority adviced Murali not to use doosra.

5. Murali has the right to use doosra until about the midway to the current series in Zimbabwe. After that he will be banned if he uses it.

6. Ignoring all advice, Murali continues to use doosra and gets wickets with that delivery.

Does Murali choose to end all the pain in a rather suicidal note out of desperation? I wouldn't be surprised. Somebody needs to intervene, and intervene now.

[chinaman]

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse is all set to sue the International Cricket Council (ICC) over its decision to outlaw spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan's controversial "doosra" delivery.

Rajapakse said in a statement Sunday that he would defend the off-spinner even though Sri Lanka Cricket had asked the bowler to cut out the away-going delivery from his armoury.

"The Prime Minister has decided to take legal steps against the ICC for banning (Muralitharan's) doosra," a statement from his office said. "The Prime Minister is already in consultation with a team of lawyers."

Rajapakse said that Muralitharan, who is now the most successful bowler in Test history with 523 wickets, was a national asset and he would do everything within his power and that of the government to defend the bowler.

AFP / Yahoo >>

[Tintin]

Any updates on this ?

Where can SL file the case ? In a British court ?

[chinaman]

Just like the doosra itself, the court, even updates on this remain mysterious to this day.

[abhs]

Colombo: India on Thursday assured its support to Sri Lanka's beleaguered spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan, whose 'doosra' delivery has been banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC), saying the bowler was a "pride and pleasure" for the Indians as well.

After talks with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse in Colombo on Thursday , India's top envoy Nirupam Sen said that New Delhi was keen to back the Sri Lankan player.

"Muralitharan is a pride not only to Sri Lankans. He is a pride and pleasure to Indians too. I will ask the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to help him in any way possible," he told reporters.

The remarks came after he held closed-door talks with the Sri Lankan Prime Minister seeking support for suing the ICC over its decision to ban Muralitharan's 'doosra.' Rajapakse received Sen at his officia Temple Trees residence for the talks, officials said.

The PM had said on Wenesday that he was seeking support from the other three Test playing nations in South Asia -- Bangladesh, India and Pakistan -- over Murali's issue.

Rajapakse has also made elaborate arrangements to welcome Muralitharan who returned to a hero's welcome on Thursday after Sri Lanka's tour of Zimbabwe during which he set the world record of Test wickets.

The Sri Lankan Prime Minister has mounted a campaign to defend the star off-spinner after Australian Prime Minister John Howard described him as a "chucker."

Source. Thatscricket

[Tintin]

It is none of our business to get into this mess.

India's top envoy Nirupam Sen said that New Delhi was keen to back the Sri Lankan player.

That hardly means that India is going to offer full support. BCCI isn't even involved in it yet and Dalmiya has his own opinion about things. Still the cricket politics of the subcontinent might force him to take a pro Lanka stand.

[abhs]

A Sri Lankan government spokesperson revealed today that it had abandoned plans to sue the International Cricket Council for banning Muttiah Muralitharan's doosra. After consulting its lawyers, the government has decided instead to appeal to the ICC, said Rohan Weliwata, spokesman for Mahinda Rajapakse, the prime minister.

Speaking to a news agency, Weliwata said, "Even though lawyers felt there was sufficient grounds to sue, the first step will be to present an appeal on behalf of Muralitharan. The prime minister is getting the support of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan in this."

Muralitharan is now the highest wicket-taker in the history of Test cricket, with 527 wickets, and last week, Rajapakse took the unprecedented step of meeting Nirupam Sen, an Indian diplomat in Colombo, to enlist India's support for the campaign to allow Murali his doosra.

The ICC had threatened him with a one-year ban if he continued to bowl it, saying that he straightened his arm far more than is allowed under the rules of the game. Last week, Ehsan Mani, the ICC's president, had asked Rajapakse to stay out of the controversy and allow the ICC to find its own solution.

Rajapakse's threat to sue had come in the wake of remarks from John Howard, Australia's prime minister, that suggested Murali was a chucker. Mani, however, had insisted that there was no basis for legal action. "I don't know how we'd be sued, but all our regulations are fully supported by all our members."

Source: Cricinfo