Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker, Shane Warne, said on Thursday the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) new proposal on cricket’s ”chucking” controversy might create more confusion.
The Australian leg-spin wizard was responding in Melbourne to news that an ICC committee, comprising former Test players and chaired by former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, has recommended a new rule allowing bowlers to straighten their arms by up to 15 degrees.
Under the proposed new ruling, which will be put to the ICC chief executive committee of the 10 Test-playing countries at its next meeting, in Melbourne next February, almost all modern bowling actions will be legal.
Warne said it should be left up to umpires on the field to no-ball bowlers for suspect actions.
Sri Lankan spin ace Muttiah Muralitharan, Warne’s rival for the all-time wickets record, will be able to resume bowling his controversial ”doosra” delivery under the proposal.
Warne was careful not to single out Muralitharan or any other bowler when he discussed the proposal on Thursday.
”I think it might [create confusion] — how does an umpire tell if it’s 12 degrees, 10 degrees, nine, 13, 14, whatever it is, when it happens like ‘that’?” Warne asked.
”I’m not saying anyone does [throw], all I’m saying is that any bowler that plays, if the umpire is standing there and they think someone throws the ball, they call him and then it goes to that panel.”
Former England batsman Geoff Boycott described the proposals as a ”sad day for cricket”.
”I think it’s been brought in through pressure from Sri Lanka and Murali’s supporters,” he said in England. ”It’s a sad day for cricket that this pressure can allow Muralitharan to bowl whatever he wants.”
Warne said he is very confident of playing in next week’s opening Test against New Zealand in Brisbane.
He missed this month’s fourth Bombay Test against India after breaking a thumb in nets batting practice.
”The thumb is fine at the moment, it’s healing well and hopefully it will be fine for Brisbane,” he said.
The first Test at the Gabba gets under way on November 18. — Sapa-AFP