Senanayake heads to Perth to sort out action

Sachithra Senanayake, the Sri Lanka offspinner who was banned from bowling last month due to an illegal action, has left for Perth to undergo a remediation programme with Daryl Foster, a biomechanical expert at the University of Western Australia.

Senanayake, who will be accompanied by Sri Lanka Cricket's coaching department head Jerome Jayaratne, will spend at least 10 days in Perth where he will be subjected to extensive bio-mechanical testing and reporting by the biomechanics team at the University of Western Australia.

The tests would include an initial 2D video screening session, remediation programme pathway and a full 3D biomechanical assessment (post-remediation).

Initially Sri Lanka were planning to send Senanayake early to Perth and get him cleared by the ICC so that they could play him in the upcoming three-match one-day international series against Pakistan later this month.

However, on the advice of Foster, SLC pushed back Senanayake's remediation programme. Foster had told SLC to not rush because unless they got it right and satisfied the ICC, Senanayake could be in danger of being suspended from bowling in international cricket for a longer period of up to two years.

"There is a six-month period within which to remedy Senanayake's bowling action and we are making the maximum use of it," said SLC head of cricket operations Carlton Bernadus.

"Senanayake will not play in the Pakistan series. We are targeting him to play in the home series against England in November and in the ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in February."

Senanayake was reported for a suspected illegal bowling action during the fourth one-day international against England at Lord's in June.He initially underwent a biomechanical testing of his action at the Cardiff Metropolitan University and his action was found to be well above the 15 degree limit.

The total cost to Sri Lanka Cricket sending Senanayake and Jayaratne to Perth is A$17,000 (about 2 million SL rupees).