Hi All, The issue is being made out to be about Muralitharan specifically whereas the basic issue is whether a bowler (any bowler) chucks or not.
The moot point is that like any other sport cricket is a sport and like all other sports this also has rules of play.
Can anyone list a sport where a congenital or man made disability is allowed to be treated as an advantage (maybe basketball can be one -not all people can be 7 ft tall).
This is like saying that a javelin thrower is allowed to throw in a different styly because of a congenital problem or say tennis player allowed to serve differently because of a defect in his arm which gives an unfair advantage to the player.
We all know and have seen the amount of advantage that this bent arm or whatever gives (has anyone seen the ball spin more than the ones that Murali spins or go faster than Shoaibs). This is clearly an advantage over other bowlers and must not be allowed.
The apalling thing is that people dare to compare achivements with such advantages to someone who has toiled hard to get his wickets.
For the greater good of the game there should either be universal acceptance that any action goes or not.
Nice article. Informative, and forward looking. I have one point to add. Standards of judgement can vary at different levels and they do almost in all sports. At the highest level, you should use the latest gadgets to resolve issues if you can afford such gadgets. Cricket definitely can.
At local level, one accepts rookie umpires, patchy wickets, and many compromises. Just because you cannot use some gadget at local levels, you should not bar it from higher levels. Advances in technology will bring down the costs in future, and it might become possible to use them at progressively lower levels.
The present standards must be as per the best available monitoring devices the game can afford at its highest level.
Murali is a perfect chucker, no doubt about it. One of my friend can immitate his action and can get almost same amount of spin frm the ball, if not more than Murali, his arm remains bent and he cannot straighten it. The issue that Murali has bent bone is a lie and it is just an excuse to make Murali get more 'illegal' wickets. Its a shame that a guy with such action is the highest wicket taker in the world. Just imagine how much hard work and effort has Courtney Walsh has put in getting "legally" all the 519 wickets. This is what hurts all the genuine cricket lovers as the truth is not the winner...the politics and illegality with might emerges winner which is disgisting..........
I read the message posted by Mr. Raja Mohan and I find that he has confused the issues. What we are discussing is whether Muttiah Muralitharan chucks. I am of the firm belief that Muttiah Muralitharan chucks the ball, because it is clearly visible when he bowls. Muralitharan himself is suffering from a guilty complex and therefore he must have not made the trip to Australia. Mr. Raja Mohan says that this is a racial issue and has needlessly dragged the names of Alan Donald, John Snow, etc., as they did not chuck.
If India & other cricket playing nations have never objected to Murali's action, excepting Australia, One can only say that It is the Aussies who have aproblem , and each time they have to face him, they start a psychological attack by criticising Muralis action ! This time they did the same & managed to win agst Sri Lankans.
RE:Muralitharan 's bowling action & chucking
by Raja Mohan on Jul 16, 2004 05:36 PM
Talking about Muralitharan's action even now is not correct when no nation other than Australia has complaints. Australia has the habit of finding wrong in others while they are the people who invented unsportive actions like underarm bowling. No body talked much about it. There is also racism involved while reacting. For example, John Snow bowled india using vaseline but he was not banned or questioned. Hansi Cronje used microphones for getting advice from dressing room and went with out any legal action. Allan Donald used four letter word audible even to spectators but the management were silent. But there were similar reactions and criticism on asian players as if they are the only manipulators. People need to be fair while making statements. if ICC doesnt ban Murali than he is a right bowler and must continue. Thats the end of it.
RE:Muralitharan 's bowling action & chucking
by Nelson Lewis on Jul 16, 2004 12:57 PM
Any bowler having a suspect bowling action, due to deformity, physical defect or otherwise, should not be permitted to play at first class level, if the best interests and traditions of the game of cricket are to be upheld. He could play as a batsman or fielder. Sri Lankan bowler, Muralitharan, is a "chucker" there is no doubt about it. Forget what the experts say, the gadgets have to reveal, etc. Even the bowling actions of Shoaib Akhtar, Brett Lee and Harbhajan Singh are suspect. However, due to big money involved in sports, umpires, players, etc. are just keeping quiet in order to avoid stirring controversies that could jeopardise their lucrative careers. In another era, Indian spin bowler, B.S. Chandrasekar's bowling arm was affected by polio. However, there was no outcry during his career, simply because his bowling action was very clean and there was nothing suspect about it. Any knowledgeable cricketer could tell you that it is possible to bowl faster or get abnormal spin, when he chucks the ball and this would not be possible when he does not chuck he ball. What Bishen Singh Bedi has said about Muralitharan is absolutely right and commend him for his courage.
How come the Author has left out the latest arrival to the list of 'Chuckers' - L.S. Malinga who made his debut for Sri lanka in the first Test against Australia is the Classic example of a Base Ball Pitcher! What is surprising is he escaped from getting 'No Balled' by the Umpires standing for the Test.
RE:Chucking - the Base Ball Way!
by pradeep on Jul 14, 2004 01:12 AM
I totally agree with you. Its the worst bowling action I have ever seen. Having been a fast bowler for more than 8 years from now, I am seriously getting doubts whether Cricket is losing its discipline or Bowlers are getting desperate. Malinga better practice some other game, say baseball or softball or anything other than cricket. Save Cricket!
