TSE Exclusive: Ajmal gets clean chit from ICC expert again

Bipin Dani January 29, 2012 1

TSE Exclusive: Ajmal gets clean chit from ICC expert again

ICC hires Aussie lady expert for testing players’ bowling action

MUMBAI: Bruce Elliott, the man who tested several international cricket players including Sri Lanka’s Muthiah Muralitharan and Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal for their suspected bowling actions, will no longer be associated with the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“I am now retired from the ICC panel. Now I shall be involved with the tennis assignment”, the Biomechanical expert at the University of Western Australia informed The Sports Encounter exclusively over telephone from Perth on Saturday.

Professor Jacqueline Alderson is the new inductee in the ICC panel. “She now heads the ICC Testing Program at UWA, as was responsible for testing Saeed’s action”, Elliott added.

Their research programs are aimed at understanding the mechanical, anatomical and neuromechanical mechanisms and processes underlying human movement.

In fact, the lady also assisted Elliott in testing a few ICC-referred players.

Saeed Ajmal’s recent bowling action is being questioned by the England players, but according to the lady Professor Jacqueline Alderson, his bowling action is beyond doubts.

“I can confirm that following a request from the ICC in May 2009, the UWA team tested Mr Ajmal and his action at that time was found to be within the ICC tolerance thresholds”, she said exclusively.

A right-arm 34-year-old off spinner, Ajmal’s stock delivery turns into right-handed batsman but he also frequently uses the doosra and the teesra which turn the other way, and he generally bowls flatter than most other off spinners. The doosra has been an effective tool for Ajmal as batsmen have often failed to pick it.