MELBOURNE, Dec 15: Former Australian captain Greg Chappell on Saturday described Shaun Tait’s bowling action as “fine” but said the stigma of being questioned for its legality might always remain with the paceman.

”I just think it’s disappointing, because it’s something that will be hard for him to live down no matter how many times he’s cleared, and he will be,” Chappell said referring to New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori’s remarks questioning the legality of Tait’s action.

Chappell said he had examined Tait’s action when he was at the helm of South Australia and believed it was legal. “He’s fine, I’m just a little bit disappointed the comments were made without regard to the damage it can cause. But I don’t think Shaun has anything to worry about because his action’s fine,” he was quoted as saying by ‘The Daily Telegraph’.

Former Australian leg-spinner Terry Jenner felt Vettori showed his leadership inexperience by questioning Tait’s action. “I wonder if (Vettori’s predecessor) Stephen Fleming would have commented. Maybe he is new to the job and is firing the bullets for someone else,” said Jenner, in a veiled reference to Kiwi coach John Bracewell.

Jenner, who coaches the Redbacks part-time, has monitored Tait at close quarters since 2002-03. “He is just a normal pace bowler who has to use his wrists. “To the eye it can sometimes look like something else but they do that to keep the seam up. I just think it is a storm in a teacup, everyone can stop laughing and get it on with it.”—Agencies