Prenelan Subrayen Suspect Bowling Action: Top 5 famous bowlers reported by ICC in the past.
The world of cricket was once again reminded of the challenges surrounding bowling actions when South African off-spinner and all-rounder Prenelan Subrayen was reported for a suspect bowling action. The incident took place during the first ODI against Australia at Cairns, where 31-year-old Subrayen, making his 50-over debut, claimed the wicket of Travis Head and finished his spell with 1-46 in South Africa’s 98-run victory. However, his stint was overshadowed by the match officials’ concerns regarding the legality of his bowling action.
According to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and multiple media reports, Subrayen now has 14 days to undergo an independent assessment of his action at an ICC-accredited facility. Until the results are released, he remains eligible for selection, though South Africa’s coaching staff have chosen to rest him for the second ODI. In an interview to cricket.com.au., Australian head coach Shukri Conrad stated the team would “rally around him and make sure that he’s in the best space.”
This is not Subrayen’s first encounter with concerns over his action. His record shows that his bowling has been scrutinised and deemed illegal in domestic and T20 cricket before. He was suspended from South African domestic cricket in late 2015 after failing an assessment but was subsequently cleared to resume after a successful retest. A similar suspension occurred in 2012, necessitating remedial work and further evaluations before he was cleared to participate again.
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The rules and ramifications
According to the rule, a bowler’s arm must not extend more than 15 degrees at the elbow during delivery. Breaching this threshold means the bowler is employing an illegal action, commonly referred to as ‘chucking.’
Suspect bowling actions have been a recurring theme in cricket, affecting legends and newcomers alike.
Let’s revisit five of the most high-profile cases:
Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)
Muttiah Muralitharan, widely regarded as one of the greatest spinners in cricket, endured persistent controversy and scientific analysis over his unique bowling action. His physical condition, a congenital arm deformity, gave his action an unorthodox appearance. Muralitharan was first called for throwing in Australia in 1995, and again during subsequent series, prompting scientific tests and biomechanical studies. Eventually cleared by the ICC’s laboratory testing, Muralitharan nonetheless spent much of his career battling stigma and suspicion.
Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan)
Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was also regarded as one of fine spinners in world cricket with his subtle variations and ‘doosra.’ In September 2014, his career took a sharp turn when he was suspended by the ICC for exceeding the permitted elbow extension on several of his deliveries, including his off-spin and doosra. Ajmal underwent remedial work and was eventually cleared in early 2015, but he was never able to recapture the same effectiveness, and his international career ended soon after.
Johan Botha (South Africa)
Johan Botha, an off-spinning all-rounder for South Africa, was reported for suspect action in February 2006 soon after his Test debut. Following independent assessment and corrective training, he was cleared to resume bowling at international level. However, his ‘doosra’ delivery remained under suspicion, and he was again reported in 2009 and instructed to abandon the delivery indefinitely. Botha’s career continued, but with adjustments to his bowling style.
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Shane Shillingford (West Indies)
On 20 November 2010, right after his international debut, umpires Asad Rauf, Richard Kettleborough and Steve Davis reported Shane Shillingford for suspect bowling action. Tests later revealed that his arm was bending by 17 degrees during delivery, exceeding the legal limit. As a result, on 21 December 2010, ICC suspended him from bowling in international matches until his action was corrected and reassessed. He was sent to the Sagicor High Performance Centre, where he spent three months working on remodeling his action. In May 2011, after fresh testing, the ICC confirmed that his new action was within the legal limits, clearing him to resume bowling in international cricket.
Harbhajan Singh (India)
Another significant name was Harbhajan Singh, the legendary Indian off-spinner. He was reported for a suspect action early in his international career in 1998. The main concern centered around his doosra delivery, which drew scrutiny during a home series against Australia. BCCI and ICC recommended that Harbhajan undergo biomechanical analysis at the University of Western Australia, one of the ICC’s accredited testing centers. After assessment, it was found that while there was some straightening of the arm, it was within the permissible limits for most of his deliveries. Harbhajan was then cleared to continue bowling.
For now,Prenelan Subrayen has to undergo an independent assessment of his action at an ICC-accredited facility. Subrayen, like those before him, will face the test of character and resilience that only the greatest cricketers can endure.
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