ICC to rule on Harbhajan Singh's action (4 January 1999)

4 January 1999

ICC to rule on Harbhajan Singh's action

The Christchurch Press

The International Cricket Council will make any new judgment on the legality of Indian spin bowler Harbhajan Singh's bowling action.

It is expected the ICC will receive a report from Barry Jarman, match referee in the current New Zealand-India test series, about Harbhajan's action.

"No comment, check with ICC," was Jarman's reaction to queries about Harbhajan's action.

It is expected the ICC will study videotapes of his bowling from the second test in Wellington last week.

The 18-year old Indian off-spinner's action was challenged after the match by former New Zealand slow bowler Stephen Boock. The problem, Boock believes, is a bent arm at delivery.

Boock, who was previously critical of Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, was emphatic Harbhajan threw the ball. "Neither Singh nor Muralitharan are within cooee (of) the rules of the game. They're so obviously chuckers, it's not acceptable," said Boock.

Harbhajan visited London last October and received a clearance from the ICC's spin consultant Fred Titmus, the former England slow bowler.

Boock said the structure for dealing with suspect actions was clearly not working.

According to Titmus, it was a minor flaw in the bowler's delivery stride that gave him "the appearance" of throwing. Match referees referred his action to the ICC from his early test outings.

Harbhajan made little impact at the Basin Reserve with figures of none for 61 (25 overs) and none for 11 (five overs). It was his ineffective bowling which led to his omission from the playing line-up in the third test.

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)