Lawson reported for suspect action

18 Jul, 2005

West Indian fast bowler Jermaine Lawson was reported for an illegal bowling action during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Sunday.
Lawson, who took four wickets in each innings of the Test which Sri Lanka won by six wickets, was reported by the two on-field umpires, Simon Taufel of Australia and Nadeem Ghauri of Pakistan, and TV umpire Peter Manuel of Sri Lanka, an ICC release said.
ICC match referee Mike Procter of South Africa said he had informed the West Indies team management of the report.
Lawson will be allowed to play in the second and final Test of the short series starting in Kandy on Friday, pending investigations of his bowling action.
"The match officials had concerns with potential elbow flexation when viewing the bowler's action with the naked eye," Procter was quoted as saying in the ICC statement. "This assessment has led the team of officials to request the ICC to commission a bio-mechanical report into the bowler's action in accordance with the new process introduced earlier this year," he said.
Lawson will now undergo independent analysis of his action by a member of the ICC's panel of human movement specialists.
The 23-year-old from Jamaica has claimed 47 wickets in 11 Tests.
The scrutiny of Lawson's action is a further blow to the West Indians, already badly depleted by the absence of 10 top players including master batsman Brian Lara due to a sponsorship row with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
Team manager Tony Howard declined to confirm if Lawson will be picked for the Kandy Test.

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