SYDNEY, April 13: Australian cricket vice-captain Adam Gilchrist has questioned the biomechanical testing of Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan's bowling action. Gilchrist said tests in a laboratory are "flawed" because they cannot be compared to cricket field conditions.

Muralitharan's new delivery which spins away from right-handers was reported by umpire Chris Broad. Gilchrist said: "I have got to question why they bother doing a test like that whether it is Murali or anyone else."

He believes International Cricket Council should consider looking at their rules on chucking rather than review one of Murali's deliveries. Sri Lanka Cricket Board is set to receive the report in next few days.

If fault is found with the spinner's action, he will have to undergo remedial work or drop the so-called doosra from his repertoire. Muralitharan took 28 wickets in home series against Australia last month, while Australia leg spinner Shane Warne grabbed 26 to move to 517, just two short of West Indian Courtney Walsh's world record.

Muralitharan's action has been the source of controversy since he was no-balled for throwing by umpire Darrell Hair in a Test match at Melbourne in December 1995.

The 31-year-old was later cleared by the ICC after a University of Western Australia biomechanical analysis, which concluded that the bent-arm action created an "optical illusion" of throwing.

Meanwhile, an Australian biomechanical expert has defended the testing procedures involved in examining spinner Muttiah Muralitharan's controversial "doosra" delivery.

Jacque Alderson from the University of Western Australia said it would be difficult for the Sri Lankan spinner to deliberately change his bowling technique without the biomechanic's team detecting a slowing down of action.

She said: "I think it would be highly unlikely that someone will be able to change their action inside that environment but I would not say it would be impossible.

"But to be honest I don't know any other way it could be tested. You would have to say it would be very difficult for someone to actively change their motion in less than one-hundredth of a second."

Her comments come after Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist questioned the value of the testing procedures. Muralitharan has captured 513 wickets in 88 Tests and is now only six wickets short of West Indian Courtney Walsh's world record, which he is expected to eclipse during this month's two-Test series in Zimbabwe. -Agencies