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Doosra: ICC vs Scientists
Report on Muralitharan doosra unearths new facts
By Marlon Fernandopulle
ICC's human movement specialist Professor Bruce Elliott who conducted extensive research on Muttaih Muralitharan's doosra delivery has urged the ICC to permit Muralitharan to bowl the doosra as he believes that the minor level of elbow extension (10 degrees), does not give the bowler an unfair advantage. He has also called on the ICC to consider increasing the fast bowling extension threshold to 15 degrees from the current 10 degrees.

The ICC appointed professors' recommendations which has also been endorsed by Sri Lanka’s bowling Advisor Daryl Foster was sent to the ICC on the 23 rd of April. The ICC is expected to give their decision on this report and circulate it among the ICC referees and umpires within 14 days of receipt of the report.

The folowing are some salient points from the University of Western Australia(UWA) report on Muralitharan made available to the Sunday Times.

Increase the arm extension
The increase in the arm extension of fast bowlers from 10 to 15 degrees is suggested by Professor Elliott following the only study on the 'changes of elbow angle during fast bowling' that was carried out by scientist Marc Portus in 2003.This study has suggested that the ICC range of acceptability should be increased to 15 degrees for fast bowlers.

Murali-arm rotation speed that of a fast bowler
A striking revelation that has emerged during the recent tests carried out by Professor Elliott at the Western Australian University was that Muralitharans' rotational speed of the arm (time from arm horizontal to release) is similar to a fast bowler. In fact the tests have revealed that Muralitharan recorded a time of 0.08 seconds which was the similar time recorded by a Pakistani fast bowler who also underwent a similar test recently at the University of Western Australia. This extraordinary speed of Muralitharans' arm rotation has prompted professor Eliott to state that Muraitharan should have the same range of acceptability in elbow angle to that of fast bowlers. ICC's current standards for the elbow angle is 10 degrees for fast bowlers and five degrees for spinners.

Professor Elliott is also of the view that a case may be made for Muralitharan's initial elbow extension to be acceptable at 14 degrees. Particularly, when one considers his speed of his arm rotation is similar to that of a fast bowler and the only scientific data related to fast bowling suggested an increase in the acceptable threshold from 10 to 15 degrees.

.Although the ICC admits that the current standards for the elbow angle of 10 degrees for fast bowlers and five degrees for spinners (tolerance levels) were based on expert advise, Daryl Foster in his report has asked on what information, studies or research were these levels based! Thus it will only be fair by the ICC to listen to the voice of the experts and carry out extensive tests on fast bowlers and spinners before setting these limits.

No unfair advantage
In a media release last week the ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed was quoted saying, the current levels of tolerance are based on expert advise, that suggests beyond a certain level, bowlers will gain an unfair advantage. However in his report Professor

Elliott says that the relatively minor level of elbow extension following remediation over the period from arm horizontal to release is not believed to give Muralitharan an unfair advantage over batsman or other bowlers. In fact research scientist Marc Portus (2003) in his research into fast bowling has suggested that 15 degrees as being a point after which there may be some speed advantage gained by the fast bowler. However no such research has been conducted into spin bowling.

If there is no unfair advantage gained by the bowler, despite the extension of the arm, why should the delivery be termed as illegal? The onus is once again with the ICC to go by what the scientists are saying and what the research has revealed.

Muralitharan's doosra was reported by match referee Chris Broad on the last day of the third test between Australia and Sri Lanka. As part of the stage one process Muralitharan was sent to the Western Australian University to be tested under the watchful eye of Professor Bruce Eliott, an ICC appointed human movement specialist. These tests have revealed that Muralitharan’s doosra had an elbow angle of 14 degrees.

However with the help of some remedial work done under the guidance of Daryl Foster the elbow angle was reduced to around 10 degrees, which is still outside the current level of five degrees set by the ICC.

Despite this situation Professor Bruce Eliott, an expert in this field and Daryl Foster have made some prudent recommendations. One of which is that Muttiah Muralitharan should be permitted to continue bowling his doosra at least until a valid data base is collected on spinners. These recommendations are based on data, facts and scientific analysis. But the big question is will the ICC go by these recommendations or will they stick to their guns?

Why Murali continues to bowl the doosra
Despite being reported by match referee Chris Broad and tests revealing that Muttiah Muralitharans doosra is not within the current ICC standards, the Lankan off spinner continued to bowl the controversial delivery during the Zimbabwe -Sri Lanka one day games. The champion off spinner is well aware that he cannot be reported for a suspect bowling action, untill the 4th day of the first test match.

This is due to the fact that the ICC regulations stating that a bowler reported for a suspect bowling action cannot be reported again until the expiry of six weeks from the date of being first reported. Thus Muralitharan who was first reported on the 28th of March will enjoy a six week period upto the 8th of May where the match officials cannot report him. However after the expiry of this period if Muralitharan is reported again within a 12 month period from the first report, the bowler may end up facing a ban of 12 months.

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