I'VE GOT MAIL

Mike owns a restaurant near Leeds and loves his cricket and soccer. And as an English sports fan, is OBVIOUSLY a huge fan of all things Australian.

So, to celebrate Mark Viduka's recent goal splurge, he's promised free ... err ... discounted ... err ... ONE complimentary after dinner mint ... err ... doubled his price for Aussie customers. Triple for Shane Warne and Harry Kewell.

Anyhoo, Mike's undoubted largesse aside, last week he asked this question:

Dear Tony, aka cricket guru.

What do the rules say about the height of a bowlers arm when he releases the ball, the arm has to be strait, but is it also supposed to be vertical ?

I was pondering this as I watched young Fidel Edwards in action last night, his arm comes across a diagonal angle as he releases, giving the appearence of throwing.

No idea there. So I fired off an email to Cricket Central:

Dear Lords Gurus,

I'm an avid cricket watcher in Australia -- it's OK, this letter is not a sledge ... err ... "mental disintegration" -- and I'm following up a friend's question about the bowler's arm at delivery.

He's been watching the England/Windies series and he commented on Fidel Edwards low action. Then we both started wondering if there's a limit as to how low a bowler's arm may be as he swings it over/round his body.

I looked at the No Ball Rule (24) on your website but couldn't find anything specifically related to the angle of the arm.

I guess that's it in a nutshell -- How low may a bowler's arm be as he bowls?

Yours Sincerely
Me

PS: How did Hoggard get a hat-trick?

Now, even though Lords have their official "Rules Hotline", you never know if you'll get a response ... but I did:

Dear Tony,

Thank you for your inquiry relating to the position of the arm as the bowler releases the ball.

The Laws of Cricket and the ICC playing regulations both prohibit the bowling of underarm deliveries.

The level of the ball in hand in relation to the bowler's shoulder is the critical issue in determining underarm/overarm bowling. The bowling arm must swing over shoulder height during the delivery action for the ball to be considered to be delivered over-arm. Several international bowlers have displayed noticeably lower, or 'round-arm' actions, similar to Fidel Edwards, but still complied well within the Law in this sense.

Yours in cricket,

Tony Dodemaide
Head of Cricket

There you have it. Lords, just like every London pub, is run by an Aussie. Hope he doesn't realise it was me -- one of only FIVE spectators -- heckling him at the WACA in January 1984. Still no wiser on Hoggard.

Comments

[Adam]

Cool, you got email from Tony Dodemaide.

I want one from Tom Moody or Tim Zoehrer.

[rat]

groovy dude. wonder when they will make more restrictive rules. could be a while yet.

thanks for the link though

[Tony.T]

Turkey Tom? Top bloke. Timmy Zee. WAFL Mark of the Year in about 1982. The odd incident career-wise I'm told.

Don't hold your breath, Ratty.

[Yorkshire Soul]

How did Hoggard get his hat trick ? As the great man explained later, in a somewhat tired and emotional state........

......."It all started with the first wicket."

Cheers for clearing that up Matthew.

[Tony.T]

And no doubt finished with the third. Nailed it, did Hoggy. A wise man.