Crickеt is onе of thе sports whеrе skill, tеchniquе, and fair play arе still thе main factors that count. One thing that gets lots of at tеntsion is the bowling action of players.
An “Illegal Bowling Action” is a situatіon when a ball is thought to bе thrown instead of bowled by a player. The International Cricket Council (ICC) states that this is when a player’s elbow goes up more than 15 degrees from the horizontal arm position until the ball release.
How is the Detection done?
The umpires make their decision about whether a bowler could possibly be employing an illegal bowling technique based on their experience and observing with the naked eye. In case they suspect so, they make a written report.
The player is then examined at an ICC Approved Testing Centre by using sophisticated technology and under the supervision of movement sciences specialists.
What Is Considered a Fair Delivery?
A delivery made by the bowler will not be considered fair if during the whole delivery, he/she does not drop the bowler’s arm partially or completely from the shoulder level at the same time until the ball has left the hand. However, bowlers are allowed to flex or rotate the wrist in the course of the delivery.
The Elbow Extension saga
Scientific studies have shown that practically all kinds of bowling actions include some amount of elbow straightening, known as “Elbow Extension.” However, complete elbow extension that is visible beyond 15 degrees begins to look more like a throw rather than a legitimate bowl.
Rules and Regulations regarding illegal action
In order to keep the line between legal and illegal practices clear, ICC has come up with new rules stating that a maximum elbow extension of 15 degrees is allowed. These regulations bring changes to the Laws of Cricket and are directed towards:
- To build a consistent structure for the control of bowler’s actions.
- To make sure that all players are treated equally by not allowing illegal bowling actions to give a respective disadvantage.
- To create a process that is fair and fast for handling suspicious and confirmed illegal bowling actions in international cricket.
- To synchronize the approach in domestic cricket for the testing and consequences of illegal bowling actions between the National Cricket Board and the ICC.
The regulations are there to keep the game spirit and ensure fairness. They set a precedent not only for the bowlers but also for the very essence of cricket played under the ICC’s purview.
Players understand and follow the regulations, contributing to the quality and elegance that cricket fans appreciate.
