Samuels accused for suspect bowling action

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that West Indies off-break bowler Marlon Samuels has been reported for suspect bowling action, on unleashing the faster one with an off-spin action, in the third Test match between South Africa and the West Indies in Durban on Saturday.

The report was made by on-field umpires Simon Taufel and Aleem Dar, and third umpire Brian Jerling. As per the ICC regulations, ICC Match Referee Roshan Mahanama has informed both the ICC and the West Indies team management of the report,

Samuels would be suspended from bowling that particular delivery in international cricket with immediate effect if found to have been bowling with an illegal action.

He would then have the option of applying to the ICC for a re-assessment of his fast ball.

“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,” stated Mahanama in a press statement issued by ICC.

“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 further said.

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 at the earliest, but within a maximum period of 21 days from receipt by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) of formal notice by the ICC.

This will also 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.

Samuels would be allowed to continue bowling in international cricket but 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 that circumstance the resultant suspension would be considered to be a second suspension and therefore he would be suspended for a minimum period of one-year.

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

Meanwhile, Samuels is free to play and bowl in international cricket, at the discretion of the WICB, until the biomechanical report has been completed.