Beamer-happy Best in trouble

Tino Best's inclination for delivering fast, high full pitches got him into trouble again yesterday. The volatile West Indies fast bowler was immediately barred from bowling when he sent down his third such delivery of the innings to left-hander Rangana Herath in Sri Lanka's second innings early on the fourth day of the second Test. Ironically, Herath cut the ball to the boundary.

Best hit Mahela Jayawardene on the glove with a similar ball on Satuday. Kumar Sangkkara received another during his hundred on Sunday when Best was cautioned. Herath's was the third.

Muttiah Muralitharan had been caught off a high full toss from Best that was called no-ball in the first innings but it was the only instance. Under the regulations, the matter has been reported by match referee Mike Procter to the International Cricket Council (ICC), "who shall take such action as deemed appropriate against the captain and bowler concerned".

Best is only the third bowler taken off for the offence in Tests. The others are fellow West Indian Colin Stuart, coincidentally at the same Asgiriya Stadium in the second Test in 2001, and Zimbabwean Travis Friend.

It is not a first-time offence for Best who was debarred from bowling in the innings in the 2003 Carib Beer Series and reported during the West Indies 'A' team tour of England.

The law states that the umpire must call no-ball when he "considers that a high full pitch which is deemed to be dangerous and unfair was deliberately bowled". He issues a caution and on repetition directs the captain to take the bowler off "forthwith" with the over to be completed by another bowler. In this case, it was Daren Powell.

The offending bowler is not allowed to bowl again in the innings and the umpire has to report the occurrence, with the other umpire, "as soon as possible to the executive of the fielding side and to any governing body responsible for the match.