Maurice Holmes suspended from bowling

Warwickshire offspinner Maurice Holmes has been suspended from bowling after an independent analysis of his action. Holmes had been reported twice for a suspected illegal bowling action, first during the Clydesdale Bank 40 match between against Leicestershire on May 1 and again during the Second Xl Trophy match against Nottinghamshire on June 13.

No previous evidence was available and so Holmes' bowling action was subject to the independent analysis process set out in the ECB Regulations. The analysis took place on Friday June 24 and the subsequent report was received by the ECB on Wednesday July 6.

The report identified that Holmes' bowling action during the independent analysis was materially different to his action during the match in which he was reported in May and that the deliveries bowled during the independent analysis were not at a suitable pace.

Consequently, and in accordance with the regulations, Holmes has been suspended from bowling for England and in competitive County Cricket until such time as he has submitted to a fresh independent analysis in which it is concluded that he has remedied his action. The suspension is with immediate effect.

A Loughborough University student, he has been dubbed the 'English Murali' because of his ability to bowl a doosra and was recruited by Andy Moles when he was coach of New Zealand to help their batsmen prepare to face Muttiah Muralitharan on their 2009 tour. However, it is the doosra that is believed to be the cause of most concern.