HARARE, Oct 7: Tim Lamb, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive, expressed his surprise on Saturday at the way match referee Colonel Naushad Ali had called into question James Kirtley’s bowling action.

Ali, the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) match referee for the one-day series between Zimbabwe and England, told the media on Wednesday that Kirtley’s bowling was under scrutiny after he took two for 33 on his one-day international debut.

Ali said the 26-year-old Sussex seamer would be under scrutiny during Saturday’s second match in Harare.

Lamb said in a TV interview on Saturday: “I think it’s important procedures are followed and clearly they haven’t been in this case. I’ve been surprised how this has come out.

“The whole thing hasn’t been particularly well handled, and I feel sorry for James — no one should be in any doubt about the seriousness of the charge of throwing against a bowler.

“This is a matter for the ICC, and we don’t want to pick a fight with the match referee we still have three games more after today.”

Kirtley took one for 37 in England’s eight-wicket victory on Saturday.—Reuters