Is cricket finally ready to throw the book at chuckers?

Malcolm Knox on the ICC's recent drive to root out bowlers with suspect actions

13-Sep-2014

While commending the ICC's recent drive against bowlers with suspect actions, Malcolm Knox, writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, says it will be really big news when a bowler from one of cricket's big three nations is reported.

What would be even bigger news is when the law comes down on a bowler from Australia, England or India. Of those so far caught in the ICC's crackdown, all belong to the nations now designated "second-tier". The big test will come when a bowler with a suspect action plays for one of the big three.

Where cricket has failed on chucking in the past, it hasn't been due to cricketing matters. It's been when politics and power have oozed in to overrule and bully those who are meant to enforce the laws. The ICC seems to be on the right course, finally, but so far it has only gone after the little-guy nations. We'll really fall off our chairs when it is able to successfully prosecute the big guys.