SA Footy

NSW pace bowler Aaron Bird has been found to have an illegal bowling action and has been banned from playing for his State.

Cricket Australia announced today that Bird's action was found to be illegal under the Cricket Australia doubtful bowling action procedures.

Bird's action was mentioned by the match umpires following NSW's Ford Ranger Cup matches against Queensland on October and South Australia on October 22 and in the Twenty20 Big Bash final against Victoria on January 24 as displaying a "doubtful" bowling action with some deliveries.

Under the Cricket Australia procedures, any bowler mentioned by three different umpires in the same season is reported.

Bird made himself available for analysis of his bowling action at the Australian Institute of Sport biomechanics laboratory in Canberra on February 11.

The procedures require all deliveries analysed as part of the test to comply with the allowable elbow extension tolerance of 15 degrees. The assessment report found that not all of Bird's deliveries complied with the allowable elbow extension tolerance.

Any player found to have displayed an illegal action is suspended from interstate competitions until he is able to complete a biomechanical analysis that demonstrates his action is legal, but no earlier than 90 days after the date a suspension begins.

Bird's suspension begins today.


The player has the right to challenge the findings in the biomechanical assessment report through a CA Bowling Review Group hearing.

rod_rooster wrote:Fair enough that he does look like he throws it but i don't understand how Murali gets away with it yet others are banned?

I also assume that the ban does not mean he can't play just that he can't bowl? I know Bird can't bat and would never get picked for that but what if an allrounder was found to have an illegal action. Surely the can't be stopped from playing as a batsman?

rod_rooster wrote:I also assume that the ban does not mean he can't play just that he can't bowl? I know Bird can't bat and would never get picked for that but what if an allrounder was found to have an illegal action. Surely the can't be stopped from playing as a batsman?

BL&G_Ump wrote:About time...

Lightning McQueen wrote:The "chucking" rule was introduced to stop bolwers gaining pace by throwing the ball. Murali has double jointed wrists, that's why his delivery is deemed legal.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:

Lightning McQueen wrote:The "chucking" rule was introduced to stop bolwers gaining pace by throwing the ball. Murali has double jointed wrists, that's why his delivery is deemed legal.

It's not Murali's wrists that have people wondering about his action, it's the snap of the elbow that he claims cannot be straightened ... and yet at the point of delivery, and when he throws a ball from the outfield, his arm is perfectly straight. Go figure.

As to "why" his deliveries are deemed as legal .... because the ICC in it's usual cowardly way bowed to pressure and used a pissant test where Murali was allowed to just dawdle in and roll his arm over, and tried to tell us it simulated match conditions. What rubbish.

Those extra loose fitting sleeves on his (always buttoned at the wrists) shirt may fool the ICC, but a lot of people know Murali's action is illegal. This is not only my opinion, but also those of Test umpires and Match Referees who would love to call Murali but know they are only risking their careers should they do so. I know, I've had 3 Test Umpires and 1 Match Referee tell me this.

I haven't seen Aaron Bird bowl, but if he's worse than Murali, he needs to find another sport to play.

Lightning McQueen wrote:The "chucking" rule was introduced to stop bolwers gaining pace by throwing the ball. Murali has double jointed wrists, that's why his delivery is deemed legal.

Bird is very suspect, Botha is a shocker aswell, his arm is very bent.

Lightning McQueen wrote:The "chucking" rule was introduced to stop bolwers gaining pace by throwing the ball. Murali has double jointed wrists, that's why his delivery is deemed legal.

Bird is very suspect, Botha is a shocker aswell, his arm is very bent.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:

Lightning McQueen wrote:The "chucking" rule was introduced to stop bolwers gaining pace by throwing the ball. Murali has double jointed wrists, that's why his delivery is deemed legal.

It's not Murali's wrists that have people wondering about his action, it's the snap of the elbow that he claims cannot be straightened ... and yet at the point of delivery, and when he throws a ball from the outfield, his arm is perfectly straight. Go figure.

As to "why" his deliveries are deemed as legal .... because the ICC in it's usual cowardly way bowed to pressure and used a pissant test where Murali was allowed to just dawdle in and roll his arm over, and tried to tell us it simulated match conditions. What rubbish.

Those extra loose fitting sleeves on his (always buttoned at the wrists) shirt may fool the ICC, but a lot of people know Murali's action is illegal. This is not only my opinion, but also those of Test umpires and Match Referees who would love to call Murali but know they are only risking their careers should they do so. I know, I've had 3 Test Umpires and 1 Match Referee tell me this.

I haven't seen Aaron Bird bowl, but if he's worse than Murali, he needs to find another sport to play.