Samuels reported for suspected bowling action

Dubai, Jan 14 (UNI) West Indian bowler Marlon Samuels has been reported to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for having a suspect bowling action.

The report was made by on-field umpires Simon Taufel and Aleem Dar and third umpire Brian Jerling.

The officials are focusing particularly on the part-time spinner's faster ball.

Match Referee Roshan Mahanama has informed both the ICC and the West Indies team management of the report, as per the ICC regulations governing the reporting process.

''Concerns have been raised by the match officials over the legality of Marlon's bowling action with particular reference to his 'fast ball' when viewed with the naked eye,'' said Mahanama.

''We are therefore requesting the ICC to commission a biomechanical report into the bowler's fast-ball action in accordance with the process introduced in 2005,'' he said.

The report will be handled under the ICC's standard bowling review process. Samuels will now undergo independent analysis of his action by a member of the ICC's panel of human movement specialists.

This will take place as soon as is practicable, and within a maximum period of 21 days from receipt by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) of formal notice of the report by the ICC.

Within 14 days of the independent analysis being carried out, the appointed specialist will supply the ICC with a written report advising the outcome of the biomechanical assessment.

This will confirm whether the action used by the off-spinner in the bowling of his fast ball in the third Test match was legal or illegal.

If Samuels is found to have been bowling with an illegal action he will be suspended from bowling that particular delivery in international cricket with immediate effect.

He would then have the option of applying to the ICC for a re-assessment of his fast ball at any time in order to return to bowling it in international cricket.

He would be allowed to continue bowling in international cricket subject to the warning that should he continue to bowl his fast ball he would run the risk of being reported a second time.

In the circumstance that a further report resulting in an independent analysis concluded that he bowled with an illegal action, the resultant suspension would be considered to be a second suspension and therefore he would be suspended for a minimum period of one year.

Only after the expiry of this one year period would he be entitled to approach the ICC for a re-assessment of his action.

In the mean time, at this stage Samuels is free to play and bowl in international cricket, at the discretion of the WICB, until the biomechanical report has been completed.

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