AWW SHUCKS, MURALI CHUCKS

Forced out -- outed, you might say -- by the enormous weight of expert opinion, Spanky Roebuck has finally begrudged the obvious with a squirming, lemon sucking admission -- and a little help from a waggish subby -- that Murali Chucks:

Murali must chuck out the doosra

Muttiah Muralitharan should not be discouraged by the citing of his "doosra". By and large, his action has been given a clean bill of health. Both umpires in Colombo, the match referee and the scientists in Perth have passed most of his deliveries.

Only one umpire has ever questioned his leg-break. His off and top-spinners have provoked debate but Murali can keep bowling them confident that the green light has been flashed. The spotlight has been put on a delivery that, in any case, may make him less effective.

Provided the doosra is put back in the cupboard, the popular Sri Lankan spinner can keep bowling for his country.

This delivery is an extension of a ball that has been in his repertoire for years. In effect, it is a back chuck because the elbow does straighten. Murali forced the issue by taking the delivery a step further so that it did not merely go straight through but turned from leg.

To make matters worse, the England batsmen were unable to read it, possibly because they did not watch the hand closely enough. Simon Katich seemed to regard it as a scoring opportunity in his recent innings.

Now the doosra is to be confronted by scientists and experts on the appropriate committee. Murali cannot ignore their conclusions because then further reports will be made. Undoubtedly the delivery is to be declared illegal, and rightly so, because it is ugly and the elbow does straighten.

Spectators can see the straightening with the naked eye. It was more obvious in Colombo because Murali was tired and then a man's action always deteriorates.

Cricket cannot afford to disregard the opinions of its audience. Nor need it assume that the Sri Lankan community, let alone the entire region, defends the delivery. Sri Lankan officials responded responsibly to news of the charge. They were not surprised.

Other bowlers have enhanced their reputations by eliminating deliveries from their armoury. Brett Lee no longer goes wide of the crease as he did to dismiss Marcus Trescothick in Perth. Shoaib Akhtar bowls with a greater discipline than he showed against the Australians in Colombo a few years ago. Harbhajan Singh was reported and returned to the fray after remedial work, enhancing the game with his spin and bounce.

Provided the doosra is put back in the cupboard, the popular Sri Lankan spinner can keep bowling for his country.

Far from sounding a death-knell on his career, the reporting of Murali might help his bowling. Recently he has depended too much on his doosra. His off-break has not been nearly as effective because he has been forced to bowl it straighter in an attempt to disguise his new delivery.

By avoiding the newcomer, Murali can return to aiming a yard outside off-stump with a strong field on that side of the park. His stock delivery has always been hard to play because it is expertly pitched and turns sharply.

The steps taken against Murali also indicate a determination in high places to maintain the standards of bowling around the world. Chris Broad was given a free hand by his bosses to act as he saw fit.

Broad is to be congratulated for the steps he has taken. Doubtless there will be an outcry suggesting that it is an Anglo-Saxon plot to stop Murali breaking the world record.

Australian umpires lost their reputations years ago over their timid handling of the rash of throwers appearing in the 1950s. The ridiculous no-balling of Murali when he was bowling leg-breaks in Brisbane reinforced the point. Younger antipodean umpires must repair the damage.

Broad has shown the way for more cautious officials. Lately, umpires and referees have avoided making decisions on the grounds that only fools raise their heads above the parapet.

Unfortunately he had nothing to say about Australia's deplorable appealing on that final afternoon in Colombo. Cricket will be a better game when its supervisors carry out their task of raising standards all around.

Given his reluctance to admit the obvious, it's no surprise he still manages to aim a selection of sly digs at the Australian umpires and authorities.

Cherry picking his article:

1) The fact that "only one umpire has ever questioned his leg-break", doesn't come close to explaining the readiness of the umpiring fraternity to admit "off the record" that Murali's action stinks but they are afraid for their jobs should they call him.

2) Chucking was indeed a problem in Australia, but just as it was here in Australia, it was an Australian umpire who footmarked that distant bygone era's problems. What? Forty -- yes, forty -- years ago. I was one.

3) In 1995/96 Murali was no balled for one leg break, not leg breaks plural as is suggested -- a crucial umpiring error given it's been a regular "get-out" ever since -- but all the others were valid calls after various umpires had reported Murali seven times prior to 1995 without any action being taken.

4) And if "Broad is to be congratulated for the steps he has taken", why haven't there been more calls from Roebuck to have match referees refer the Doosra to the ICC, instead of cheap-shots at English batsmen, and to a lesser extent their Australian counterparts, for their inability to play the "ball".

Never the less, at least buried in all his "good news" of a soon to be revitalised Murali -- the point about Murali's line of attack is not without merit -- is Roebuck's unequivocal admission that: "Undoubtedly the delivery is to be declared illegal, and rightly so, because it is ugly and the elbow does straighten."

Thank Christ for that. Contary to statement's hereabouts, I generally enjoy Roebuck's work, but as a significant presence in cricket journalism his reticence to admit the obvious was bringing into question his judgement -- and possibly integrity -- as a sporting commentator.

At long last ... listed.

Comments

[The Mongrel]

Roebuck is a "reverse racist," who cannot criticise a West Indian or subcontintental team even slightly without hammering an anglo team harder.

It's an attitude that stinks of paternalism.

His worst effort was in the SMH after Pakistan's disgraceful effort against Australia in the last World Cup. That match included deliberate bean-balls from the Pakistanis among other things.

Roebuck ignored all of that and criticised the Aussies!

After that I decided I couldn't be bothered with him much.

[Tony.T]

There's no doubt he goes in harder on the Aussies and Poms, Mong, but I still like to read him because he's often got something interesting to say.

Like his point about Murali's line when he's got the doosra in his repetoir. The Aussies have inadvertently alluded to this be suggesting they can pick it because it starts out straighter than the "normal" offie and thus can easily pick both by default. If default's the right word.

But I also think your point's valid. Never the less, how much of his contarian stance is schtick? You know, to sit against the opinions of your standard Aussie pundits. Maybe this is the idea with Tony Greig, although he's merely just annoying.

[murph]

fuckin cheat

[Chris]

In the original version of that article, Roebuck called Emmerson a "nincompoop" for calling Murali's leg break in '96.

[Tony.T]

Succinct as usual, Murph.

Yeah, a bad mistake, Chris. It means that the Chuckanistas -- like Roebuck -- have an excuse on which to challenge the ump's judgement. Even though the umps are largely right, I think they got caught up in the moment.

[Wacker at the WACA]

The chucker is in Perth at the moment, at a so-called 'University' (formerly an Institute of Technology) having bits of sticky tape stuck all over him, lots of slo-mo cameras recording, and some arcane snake oil science called "bio-metrics" being called on to make the momentous decision as to whether this cheat should be allowed to continue ruining his own and the game's reputation. As if he is going to chuck when the slow motion cameras are on him.

The plonker being paid for all this guff was on TV tonight, and as much as said he would "clear" the chucker, and that scientific methods would be used.
Hahahahha!

I predict that he will be "cleared" (no doubt at very great expense), and that he will go on to to snare the record of wickets taken.

This farce has done as much if not more damage to the game of cricket as Kerry Packer and Hansie Cronje combined.

[Brett pee]

I do'nt know why Roebuck attacks the Poms so vehemently. He is, after all, one of their colour and educated at a top Uni. He seems to hold a grudge against all things Pom, which is'nt a bad thing, but i cannot work out where he's coming from. Biting the hands that USED to feed him?

[Brett Pee]

The chucker is in Perth?? Jeez, i'll have to track the bastard down and grab his autograph- be worth dollars in years to come, when people will talk of a CHEAT who was THROWN out of our CLEAN game.

[Tony.T]

"As if he is going to chuck when the slow motion cameras are on him."

The whole issue in a nutshell, Wacker. It's a farce. What's more Murali's mate (and ex coach) Bruce Yardley is the one who's judging whether or not he bowls different to the way he does in a match. Nope, the only way is for the umps to call it.

Find him, Brett. And sic him.

[chris88]

Bruce Yardley's his coach??!!

Geez, and I was almost willing to forgive and forget the patterned short sleeve shirts he was wearing (with ties) when he was commentating over the Sri Lanka.... now - nup.

As for his fashion sense - cue Homer Simpson:

MARGE: Bart, comb your hair. Homer, I don't think you should wear a
short-sleeved shirt with a tie.
HOMER: But Sipowicz does it.
MARGE: If Detective Sipowicz jumped off a cliff, would you do that too?
HOMER: Ohh, wish I was Sipowicz.

[Tony.T]

A very schoolteacherly look. Apparently there's a lot not to like about Roo.

[Em]

There are tons of evidence, I mean cold, hard scientific facts to prove that he doesn't throw. Well, enough to say that if he is chucking so is every one else. The rules were changed to accomadate everyone not just murali.

On the other hand there is nothing to prove that he does chuck. So.......... what's the problem? why is so hard for some people to swallow the fact that he is clean? Well I suppose there are still people who believe that the earth is flat, despite the scientific evidence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Earth_Society

[Tony.T]

Ho hum. Yawn. When your "cold, hard scientific facts" prove he doesn't throw in a match, get back to me.

[Tony.T]

Oh, and your "every one else" who is chucking - name them.

[Last Man]

First I recomend all of you read the links below,

http://uk.reuters.com/article/cricketNews/idUKL2730453720070327

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21497196-5001505,00.html

after that GO FUCK YOURSELVES WITH SOME WILD KANGAROOS IF THAT'S NOT ROUGH ENOUGH GO FOR CROCODILES.

Muttiah Muralitharan is the best bowler ever, by the way Shane Warne is a good bowler too.

[Harry]

Shane Warne's a fat useless soulless fuck, but no one ever had to change the laws of cricket so he could bowl.

[bindi]

Well if bitter little KP says so it's good enough for me.

If anyone wants me I'll be down the wildlife sanctuary.