LONDON, Oct 17: Ex-England paceman James Kirtley has been banned from bowling because of a suspect action. An independent assessment showed the Sussex player’s bowling action exceeded the maximum of 15 degrees “elbow extension” allowed, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement on Monday.

“As a result he is immediately suspended from bowling in international and competitive county cricket until such time as he has submitted to a fresh independent analysis in which it is concluded he has remedied his action,” said the statement.

Kirtley, who has played four Tests and 11 one-day internationals for England, was also reported for a suspect action while on international duty in Zimbabwe in 2001 but returned to cricket after remedial work.

The 30-year-old Kirtley underwent an independent assessment at the ECB National Cricket Centre at Loughborough on September 26 following reports on his bowling action from umpires during two county matches in the 2005 season.

Kirtley played his last Test for England against Sri Lanka in Colombo in December 2003.

He took 19 Test wickets at an average of 29.52 and claimed nine victims in one-day internationals at 53.44.—Reuters