Cricket: Tri-series hits boiling point over throwing

ADELAIDE - The cricket tri-series between Australia, Sri Lanka and England is threatening to degenerate into a spiteful war - and not just of words - following a sensational match in Adelaide on Saturday.

When Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was no-balled by Australian umpire Ross Emerson for throwing, the Sri Lankans appeared about to walk off the field, and there were later allegations that the team were ready to quit the series.

Later in the match there were several ugly incidents, including a Sri Lankan batsman shoulder charging English bowler Darren Gough as he attempted a run out.

Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga was involved in a heated argument with Emerson following the no-ball incident, and as a result he will face an International Cricket Council code of conduct hearing in Adelaide today.

Match referee Peter van der Merwe, of South Africa, and Sri Lankan officials were called on to the field to defuse the situation.

It was not known last night what charges Ranatunga will face.

The hearing will be in front of van der Merwe, who has spoken to all three captains about general conduct.

Umpire Emerson had called Muralitharan for throwing during the 1995-96 tour of Australia, but the bowler's action was subsequently cleared by the ICC.

Australian test captain Mark Taylor, who is not involved in the one-day series, put forward the bad-tempered match as proof that the Muralitharan affair was not just an Australian problem.

Taylor said the issue of Muralitharan's controversial bowling action had gone unresolved for too long, and that was why Australian crowds had started taunting the Sri Lankan spinner with cries of "no-ball."

"Everyone has just had enough of it," he said. "It has been festering for too long."

Much was made of incidents in matches between Australia and Sri Lanka in the 1995-96 season, and Taylor saw Saturday's heated encounter as some vindication of his team.

"There was also a feeling it may have been an Australian bias. I tried my very hardest three years ago to quash any thoughts along those lines.

"Yesterday's game has proven that. Australia weren't involved and that's the best thing that could have happened.

"It was England versus Sri Lanka, both sides away from home, two independent umpires. You couldn't ask for a less volatile situation for a game that turned out to be very volatile.

"It started with one bloke being called for throwing and by the end of the game you've got a rough game. That shows you it's not a racist thing, it's not Australia versus Sri Lanka, it's a problem in world cricket that we've got to solve."

Muralitharan was back in action yesterday, taking one for 51 as Australia scored 270 all out on the last ball of their 50 overs. He was not called for throwing.

Despite the clear fury of Ranatunga, the president of the Sri Lankan cricket board, Thilanga Sumathipala, said the team had no intention of abandoning their tour.

"As far as the tour is concerned there is no doubt," Sumathipala said. "I can assure you the tour will go on.

"We do know what [Muralitharan] is going through, it's like he's a criminal. It's not fair what people are doing to him. I can't see how anybody has any doubt about his action. Who is controlling the game? The ICC or a few umpires?"

He said Sri Lanka had put a proposal to the ICC at its recent meeting in Christchurch for a change in the rules on throwing. He expected it to be passed at the ICC cricket committee's meeting in June.

"A bowler who passes x number of overs or wickets should not be called in the middle because if he is there can be serious penalties that can be resolved outside the game.

"It is bad for the reputation of the game and it's not fair for the players. We can't go on like this, it's a torture for this boy."

Muralitharan gained some consolation on Saturday night as he hit the winning run against England. Sri Lanka snatched the one-wicket win with two deliveries of their 50 overs to spare, making 303 for nine after England scored 302 for three. - REUTERS

Pictured: Muttiah Muralitharan is closely watched by umpire Ross Emerson as he bowls against England.