CHUCKEYE

Getting back to the article Nick linked yesterday:

Warne says test Murali in a match

Speaking of Murali, I agree with Terry Jenner that he should be tested under match conditions. I'm sure he is sick of it all, but it would be well worth the exercise and hassle.

I think for his own peace of mind and everyone in world cricket, do the testing in the heat of battle -- a Test match. Surely the ICC, Sri Lanka and Murali would want that.

Yobbo is right: one test in one Test means rock all. Apart from doing the right thing and returning power to the umpires the only solution is ongoing electronic supervision, but currently there's no sign that's possible.

The closest we get is via the television coverage's super-slo-mo, which Channel Nine have so far shown a reluctance to use on Murali. The official broadcaster can't afford to offend CricAussie, don't you know.

Still, technology is a fast evolving beastie, so it could be possible to further develop something like Hawkeye. At the moment Hawk misses sharp turn because it's (presumably) too slow to update, so it wouldn't work in its present incarnation, but short of actually fastening sensors to the bowler, something like Hawk's 3-D observations would seem to be the best way forward.

CHUCKEN & THE EGG

Hold the presses! I've just been outside to grab the papers, and what do you think is the back page lead in the Herald Sun?

Did Warnie and Jenner hear something from headquarters? Or did their agitations prompt a response jerk o' knee?

ICC pushes to test bowlers during play

THE International Cricket Council is developing a revolutionary system to test suspect bowlers on the field, but it could be too late to once and for all clear Muthiah Muralidaran.

Warne says match-play testing is the only way cricketing fans will ever know if the Sri Lankan spin wizard, who needs seven wickets to break the Australian's all-time Test bowling record, is a chucker.

"It (on-field testing) should have been in place a long time ago for anyone from any country they suspected," Warne said yesterday.

"There should be no fake testing. The only way you can test is in Test-match or one-day conditions, when the battle is on."

The retired leg-spinner's demand came as it was revealed the ICC is working with biomechanists on a new product where suspect bowlers would wear a sensor during play which would be linked to computers off the field.

This would allow biomechanists to assess "joint centres" and the true armbend of a bowler as the current system does not provide a truly accurate gauge.

However it is still very much in the development stage and will not be unveiled for at least two years, by which time Muralidaran, 35, may have retired.

NOBALL POSITIONING SYSTEM

But wait! There's more... in the Age.

Cost makes Murali test unlikely

MUTHIAH Muralidaran's controversial bowling action is unlikely to be tested in match conditions because the International Cricket Council isn't prepared to pay the $1 million needed for a satellite-based Global Positioning System program.

Comments

[Tony T.]

Is the "back page lead" IN the Herald Sun or ON the Herald Sun?

[Tony T.]

Noice:

An Australian player, who played against Murali in 2004, said the television images of him being tested at UWA a few weeks later bore little resemblance to the action of the bowler who claimed 28 wickets in that series.

[nick]

Hmm, which player made all the runs in that series?

I will be happy to provide my high resolution binocular visual system to the ICC for a fraction of $1 million. Anyway, just slo-mo video every match Murali plays in, and then take the footage, show only the arm, get a group of Indian/Sri Lankan/Pakistani guys of similar appearance to bowl/chuck as they see fit, blur the skin slightly so you can't pick Murali, and arrange a double blind viewing in front of retired umpires and players. The truth will out.

[Tony T.]

Which player made all the runs? Dunno. But it is Hayden, Kandy territory.

[Bruce]

I reckon the batsman in question would be Boof.

He was picking everything Murali sent down and was advising others on what to look for. One of the best cricketing brains too.

[Tony T.]

Could be right, Bruce.

That's the tour when he unveiled The Boofra.

[Tony T.]

Specifically in the Third Test with 2 for 50 off 19 and 3 for 42 off 17.

[Uncle J Rod]

I got 5 bucks, anyone else want to chip in?

[Mark]

I was getting bored with all this, started thinking 'oh what the fuck, just let him bowl goddamit'.

Then - I started thinking, that's exactly what they want.

Eternal vigiliance required.

Though sometimes I think I'm the only asshat in the UK actually worried about the future credibilty of the game we love - nothing serious then.