The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Lankans object to Gillespie’s remarks

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Monday, Oct 15, 2007
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Lankans object to Gillespie’s remarks

Colombo: Taking exception to former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie’s remarks on Muttiah Muralitharan’s bowling action, the Sri Lankan cricket community has termed it as a publicity stunt by the Australian to boost sales of his autobiography.

Gillespie, in his autobiography Dizzy, says the new cricket laws that liberalise the elbow-bending rules for bowlers have helped Muralitharan andShoaib Akhtar.

Under the new ICC rules, bowlers while bowling can now have up to a 15-degree bend in their elbow, the angle which becomes obvious to the naked eye.

“When the ICC has changed the rules allowing bowlers to bend their elbow 15 degrees, taking into consideration various aspects, why should Muralitharan’s action be questioned. He has been bowling for several years and is on the threshold of a world record,” a top cricket official here said on condition of anonymity.

No malice

Gillespie, however, has written that he raised the issue not because of any malice towards Muralitharan or Akhtar.

“They are tough to judge but you almost feel that the ICC changes the rules to keep specific players in the game,” Gillespie is reported to have said in the book.— PTI

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