Cricket: Players slam handling of chucking controversy

By STEPHEN BRENKLEY

Most of the world's leading players believe throwing is rife in the international game.

That's the most startling revelation in a survey of 10 teams at the Champions' Trophy last month which suggests growing disenchantment.

The "T" word itself was not used in the poll, perhaps because it is as taboo in cricket as women used to be at the MCC. But the bald fact is that 75 per cent of players either strongly agreed (38 per cent) or agreed (37 per cent) with the statement: "Doubtful bowling actions are a big problem in international cricket."

Only 7 per cent disagreed or strongly disagreed. But 45 per cent felt that those whose actions were reported should not continue playing until a decision on legality had been reached.

The finding is hidden in the middle of the survey, which featured 98 questions. But it reveals that players are not happy with the attitude to potentially dodgy actions. High-profile bowlers such as Muttiah Muralitharan and Shoaib Akhtar have had their actions officially cleared, but there have been scarcely concealed whispers about transgressions by others, from Brett Lee to Darren Gough.

The survey was organised by the Federation of International Cricket Associations, whose officials used the Champions' Trophy in Colombo to address all the players in one place. Every player in every team (140 in all) attended a world player meeting and most responded to the questionnaire.

A spokesman for the International Cricket Council said: "We haven't officially received a copy of this survey so it is difficult to make a comment. But we don't think that illegal actions are an endemic problem in the game. If the players are that concerned, there is the opportunity for them through the team captains to express those concerns."

A player can be reported by either the umpires or the match referee, though the onus is now on umpires. A three-stage process follows over 12 months which can end with a 12-month ban by the ICC's Bowling Review Group. Most players felt the group should be involved immediately.

Few were satisfied with the ICC's role in the game; 63 per cent felt the body failed to balance the interests of the game with those of the players.

Sixty-four per cent said there was too much international cricket and 78 per cent that players should have a compulsory annual leave period.

Almost nobody went along with the proposition that one-day cricket was becoming too boring, whereas 90 per cent said it had improved over the past five years. Seventy-two per cent felt test cricket had improved. Players were not generally happy about their rewards in the Champions' Trophy: 68 per cent thought the player terms were unreasonable, although it has international cricket's biggest prize fund.

They seemed divided on the question of technology in making decisions, 41 per cent wanting more used but 44 per cent saying the third umpire slowed the game too much.

There were clear winners in the "players' player" sections. Sachin Tendulkar (75 per cent and 51 per cent) and Glenn McGrath (70 per cent and 46 per cent) were voted, respectively, best test and one-day batsman and bowler. Jonty Rhodes (75 per cent) was adjudged best fielder. The best umpire is Rudi Koertzen of South Africa (28 per cent), slightly ahead of David Shepherd of England (25 per cent).

The ICC is being fairly sniffy about the survey, because its board refused to recognise Fica last month. But they will have noted that 87 per cent of players believe players should have a greater say in the running of the game.

- INDEPENDENT