Perera brought under the ‘action’ scanner

Sri Lankan bowler Ruchira Perera has been formally reported by umpires S Venkataraghavan and Daryl Harper for a ‘suspect bowling action...

Sri Lankan bowler Ruchira Perera has been formally reported by umpires S Venkataraghavan and Daryl Harper for a ‘suspect bowling action’.

ICC match referee Gundappa Viswanath confirmed today that the report was made by both umpires to him at the end of the drawn first Test against England at Lord’s yesterday.

Two separate video compilations of the left-arm medium pacer’s bowling action during the match were studied by the umpires before making their report. Viswanath has since informed both ICC and the Sri Lankan team management about the report, as per the new ICC regulations

governing the process which would not interrupt his playing career.

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“The reporting of any bowler at the highest level of the game is a serious matter which has to be handled with fairness and consideration to the player, his team and the opposing team. Both umpires took the opportunity to satisfy themselves fully that there was a concern with Ruchira Perera’s bowling action. Their detailed report has been passed on to the ICC and the Sri Lankan team management,” Vishwanath said.

According to an official ICC announcment, there is a clear three-stage process endorsed by all Test playing countries for bowlers reported by umpires or referees in international cricket.

Perera has now been referred to stage one of the process, which means he can continue to play international cricket while working with a specialist advisor or advisors appointed by the Sri Lankan board, to review his bowling action. ICC general cricket manager Dave Richardson admitted: “We have got a pretty lengthy procedure. We are looking at reviewing it to make it quicker.

SL board to act soon

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan cricket board today said it would immediately set in motion the process laid down by the ICC to deal with suspect bowling actions after Perera was reported by umpires in England yesterday.

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The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) will set inmotion a process in keeping with the ICC’s guidelines on suspect bowling actions, once ICC forwards the relevant footage, a BCCSL release said here.

As this is the first time Perera has been reported, the bowler can continue to play, while the local board’s advisors study his action.