Australia coach and former Test batsmen Darren Lehmann has backed the International Cricket Council (ICC) crackdown on illegal actions, terming the drive as “good for the game”.

Pakistan's star off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was banned by the ICC last week after biomechanic tests revealed all his deliveries breached the permissible limit for straightening of the elbow joint.

Ajmal recorded an astonishing 40 degrees with a relatively small standard deviation of 2.5 degrees at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, according to the 23-page ICC report on the world's top-ranked bowler in one-day internationals.

Speaking to Adelaide radio station Fiveaa, Lehmann said the ICC crackdown as long due.

“The ICC have obviously decided to have a crackdown on it,“ Lehmann said. “That’s good for the game.

“If you’re within the rules then fine. If you’re not, then you’ve got to be looked at. That’s what they’ve decided to do.

“What that tells coaches and players and everyone coming through the game is that you won’t be able to do any of that moving forward. I think it’s good for the game,” Lehmann added.

Lehmann is a member of the ICC Cricket Committee, which is made up of current and former players, coaches, umpires and executives, which recommended the crackdown among other things in its meeting.