Samuels’ bowling action to be analysed

Published February 7, 2008

LEICESTER (England), Feb 6: Marlon Samuels will go through independent examination of his bowling action at the National Cricket Academy, at Loughborough University on Monday after he was reported for a suspected action by the umpires in the third Test between South Africa and West Indies in Durban.

Due to the injury to Dwayne Bravo and absence of Chris Gayle, Samuels, a part-time off-spinner, bowled 21 overs in South Africa’s only innings of the Test.

On-field umpires Simon Taufel, Aleem Dar and third umpire Brian Jerling reported their doubts over his action, especially with respect to his ‘fast’ deliveries.

Roshan Mahanama, the match referee, then informed both the ICC and the West Indies team management of the report, as per the ICC regulations governing the reporting process.

Samuels’ analysis will be performed by Dr Mark King, member of the ICC Panel of Human Movement Specialists.

The outcome of the analysis is likely within two weeks after the tests, to confirm whether the off-spinner’s action is legal. Although only Samuel’s ‘fast’ deliveries have been reported as suspect, the process needs his action, including the ‘fast’ deliveries, to be analysed.

If the analysis verifies that only Samuels’ ‘fast’ deliveries are illegal, then he would be allowed to continue bowling in international cricket without using that delivery but subject to the warning that should he bowl his ‘fast’ ball he would run the risk of being reported a second time.

However, if this month’s analysis concludes that Samuels usually bowls with an illegal action, he will be suspended from bowling at the international level until such time as he has corrected his action and submitted to a fresh independent analysis that concludes that his action has been remedied.

Samuels has taken seven Test wickets at 127.00 apiece and 57 one-day scalps at 43.24.

—Agencies