Chucking

[Beny]

Secret filming reveals extent of bowlers who chuck

October 4, 2004





The results of controversial tests forced authorities to rewrite the laws on bowling, reports Peter Roebuck.

A confidential report prepared for the ICC, the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Cricket Board (now Cricket Australia) has revealed the extent of the game's problem with illegal bowling actions.

Indeed, it explains a response that might seem to have muddied the waters. Over a period of 18 months not so long ago, cameras were placed at convenient locations in three cricket grounds where international matches were taking place.

High-speed cameras with zoom lenses were used and footage taken of 21 pace bowlers from five countries. Those scrutinised were not told that film was being taken by biotechnicians at the behest of responsible cricket bodies.

The results were so startling that cricket authorities were forced to rewrite the laws of the game. Although it must have been tempting to sweep the entire matter under the proverbial carpet, reports of this sort cannot be kept secret.


In any case, the ICC had asked that the research be carried out. Sooner or later lawyers and others defending those suspected of breaking the rules were bound to discover that their man was not alone.

Inevitably, a case would follow with legal eagles pointing out that a condemned bowler was merely one of many offenders. Therefore the ICC was bound to adjust the laws until they reflected contemporary reality.

Mark Portus and other biotechnicians produced the report in March 2002 after isolating and studying 34 deliveries sent down in Test, one-day and other representative matches.

Using the latest technology and analysing every movement in the minutest detail, the scientists reached the remarkable conclusion that every single delivery was illegal. In every case the elbow was straightened.

It is blokes who consciously or unconsciously disregard the law who break bones, take wickets and provoke fury.

Obviously the degree varied from the minor (3 degrees) to the extreme (22 degrees) but the idea that cricket balls are in the normal run of things sent down with a straight arm had been blown out of the water.

Further investigations indicated that the average straightening of the elbow in delivery was 11 degrees, higher even than the level permitted under the laws as rewritten in 2002.

Fourteen of the balls examined revealed a straightening of more than 10 per cent and five revealed a straightening of more than 15 per cent. In other words, 14 of the balls were throws, even by the rules now in force.

Complicating matters was the revelation that in some cases the elbow was hyperextended backwards by men blessed with unusually supple joints. Portus and colleagues observed that there was "unlikely to be any solution to this problem other than surgery" and recommended allowing these freaks of nature to keep bowling.

Closer inspection of the results suggested that little advantage was gained by a bowler until the 10 per cent limit had been passed.

The average pace of deliveries sent down with a straightening below 10 per cent was 133.9 km/h, while the average speed of those where a lot of elbow was used was 136.8 km/h. Not much of a difference even from the wrong end of the coconut shy.

When the straightening passes 15 per cent, though, the average speed suddenly climbs above 140 km/h, the sort of pace that can trouble the sharpest of batsmen.

Admittedly, the sample was small but this fits the experience of batsmen over the years. No one is much affected by those whose arms straighten slightly.

It is the blokes who consciously or unconsciously disregard the law who break bones, take wickets and provoke fury - the blatant chuckers prepared to go wide of the crease or to open their chests in an unscrupulous pursuit of wickets.

Where does this leave the game? Pretty much where it started. Under the old definition, almost every fast bowler is throwing the ball, including those previously regarded as blameless.

Accordingly, it is facile to insist upon a completely straight arm throughout the delivery, for then the game could not proceed. Cricket cannot ignore these inconvenient facts and instead must take them into account.

As far as Portus and company are concerned, the solution is as inevitable as it is simple. They recommended that the acceptable level of elbow straightening be raised to 15 per cent on the grounds that not until this degree has been breached has an unfair advantage been taken. In any case, an unenforceable law is a bad law.

Portus' report says that further studies are needed and that more information must be provided to coaches. In the end, the game will rid itself of the worst cases and allow the rest to keep playing.

But it will be done of the basis of incontrovertible evidence submitted by accredited scientists. It is not pretty but in these complicated times it might be the only way. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So is throwing - or it was until the biotechnicians became involved.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Beny

Closer inspection of the results suggested that little advantage was gained by a bowler until the 10 per cent limit had been passed.

The average pace of deliveries sent down with a straightening below 10 per cent was 133.9 km/h, while the average speed of those where a lot of elbow was used was 136.8 km/h. Not much of a difference even from the wrong end of the coconut shy.

When the straightening passes 15 per cent, though, the average speed suddenly climbs above 140 km/h, the sort of pace that can trouble the sharpest of batsmen.

Admittedly, the sample was small but this fits the experience of batsmen over the years. No one is much affected by those whose arms straighten slightly.

If this is true, then the game of cricket must have been a farce sinse the time of W G Grace.
For a start the sample is small, mind you that could work both ways, but if true, this type of bowling must have gone on for years.
I could involve the greats Larwood-Lilee-Thompson-W Hall-Garner ect ect, the list could be endless, because this type of technology did not exsist in thier days, but I can't just see it being confined to modern players, like umpires are being exposed by Hawkeye, and big screen replays, did not happen in the days of Dickie Bird.

If it is true, we either change the rules to accomadate it, or stop playing the game of cricket.

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by ernest

If it is true, we either change the rules to accomadate it, or stop playing the game of cricket.

I couldn't have agreed more, I've always felt the laws on chucking need a rethink, if so many bowlers' actions are being deemed suspect there has to be a problem not only in the bowlers and their coaches, but also in the rules them selves.