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ICC panel to discuss 'throwing' policy

The controversial issue of illegal bowling actions will be under the spotlight next week when the matter is discussed at Lord's just days after Sri Lanka begin their home one-day series against Australia.

Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, at the centre of throwing allegations for most of his career, will hope to avoid any problems as Sri Lanka begin their pre-Test limited overs series against the World Cup winners on Sunday.

Two days later the International Cricket Council (ICC) panel on illegal deliveries will begin a two-day meeting to try to streamline the rules.

''Determining whether a player bowls illegally is a sensitive matter which requires a consistent approach,'' said ICC chief executive Dave Richards.

The panel was formed in 1997 and has reviewed the actions of a number of players, but Richards said he thought it would be useful for the members to meet to review the procedures currently in force in regard to calling a player.

''While law 24.2 is explicit ('the ball must be bowled, not thrown'), there are occasions where umpires are uncertain whether a player has bowled or thrown a delivery,'' said Richards.

If an umpire is unsure, there is an unwieldy process where he asks the match referee to obtain footage of the bowler's action which is sent to the ICC and then distributed worldwide to the panel. A conference call follows at which a decision is reached about the legitimacy of the action.

If there is a problem, the player is required to take remedial coaching before being allowed to return to the game.

The issue hit the headlines again this week after Aaustralian umpire Ross Emerson said he considered Muralitharan's action to be illegal.

''I was told by a member of the Australian team that if a secret poll was taken of cricketers around the world, it would be 100 per cent in support of the idea that he throws,'' Emerson said.

Emerson called Muralitharan for throwing during a one-day match against England at the Adelaide Oval last January, prompting Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga to lead his players to the boundary in protest.

Emerson was subsequently stood down by the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) and has also been overlooked for the forthcoming season's Test matches in Australia.

Muralitharan has an unorthodox action and had previously been called for throwing in Australia in the 1995-96 season but the ICC panel has cleared him.

The panel is chaired by Sir Clyde Walcott and comprises Bob Simpson (Australia), Doug Insole and Nigel Plews (England), Kapil Dev (India), John Reid (New Zealand), Javed Burki (Pakistan), Brian Basson (South Africa), Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka), Michael Holding (West Indies) and Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe).

World Cup umpires Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Steve Bucknor will also attend.

UNI