JOHANNESBURG, Jan 31: Former South Africa coach Bob Woolmer on Saturday gave a clean chit to Sri Lankan spinner Muthiah Muralitharan and Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar saying "they are not chuckers".

Woolmer described Murali as "really a very, very special bowler. In a conventional sense, Murali really does not throw", but added "he has an action that has never been seen in cricket before".

He asserted that Murali's skill level are higher or as good as that of Shane Warne.

"I don't think that Shoaib Akhtar chucks," was Woolmer's reply when asked about Pakistan fast bowler's action.

"Some bowlers's action are such that have not been seen before but that does not mean that they throw," he added.-PPI