Malinga must be checked for Chucking
Lasith Malinga cheats us, by his cheer after taking a wicket. But he bowls illegally and is a chucker. I have chances of noticing his bowling more closely and his action is anything other than bowling in the Normal Cricket Sense. All the bowlers take pains and bowl perfectly. And looking at Malinga, it is not watching Cricket but Gilli-Dandu player throw a ball.
He has a cross armed action playing tennis ball cricket as a poor village lad and suddenly he comes to International Cricket and right from the first ball I know he is throwing the ball. I have seen Chandra bowl with the polio attacked hand and why can’t Malinga bowl normally?
It doesn’t look right and the more wickets he will take and Twenty20 batsmen suffer, the more his name will come into throwing. As for the present, I am sure to say his bowling action is nothing but throwing! He is getting the benefit of doubt because he moves his hand without any stop in between his bowling action. But allow anyone to watch who does not know Cricket and He will sure find Malinga throwing the ball!
The secret for Slinger Malinga, according to Martin Gough of BBC is that he grew up in Galle, in the south of Sri Lanka, doing just that. If you have tried to bowl over-arm with a tennis ball in the office, or your mother’s lounge, you will have found the exaggerated bounce a problem.
Try it side-arm which skids through normally, Mailnga may not be good enough to take four wickets with successive balls in an international against South Africa. He’s come through playing tennis ball cricket, hence his exaggerated low arm action, has mentioned his coach Tom Moody earlier.
He’s been left to be as natural as possible, he’s reaping the benefit. International Cricket Council should change the rule of the 15 degrees allowed.
I don’t believe there is any flexion in his elbow and that the doubts arise. With Malinga one absolutely has no idea where the ball was coming from or where it was going. Forget his unique hairstyle but he has a very unique action.
Brian Lara showed his patience when Malinga was there in West Indies.
Barely had Lasith Malinga bowled the first over in India-Lanka Asia Cup game when a fan called our newspaper office claiming that he chucked not one but all his deliveries.
It was exactly the type of reaction from Aussie fans when Malinga made his Test debut earlier.
Malinga’s action was debated because one is seeing a slinger in big cricket after a long time.
In Mumbai cricket parlance Malinga would be called a ‘ lagori bowler’. Lagori is the game one plays in the building compound trying to topple by a throw of the ball a pile of seven tiles. The lagori throw is perforce round arm. And round arm is what Malinga is all about.
Some of the serious cricket followers said, “Side-arm bowling was popular in the 1800s, but I don’t think we have seen much of it in the last 100 years. Underarm bowling was disallowed in the laws in the 2000 Code, but neither over arm nor side-arm are defined in the laws, or have ever been defined as far as I know.”
A few with medical backgrounds said: “I can’t see him having a long career unless he changes his action to bring his arm a little more vertical. As he ages and injuries happen, I wonder if his arm will flatten out even more and this would definitely affect his pace and bounce.”
Another analysis: “He has a mixed action, landing with his hips side-on and then straightening them suddenly as he releases the ball. Mixed actions are the major causes of lumbar stress fractures in bowlers, and reaching speeds of 140ks, he’d be in high risk? In Australia, our bowlers are screened from a young age - why not in Sri Lanka?
For those whose concerned about Malinga stems only about the fairness of his delivery the law is reproduced below: Definition of fair delivery the arm A ball is fairly delivered in respect of the arm if, once the bowler’s arm has reached the level of the shoulder in the delivery swing, the elbow joint is not straightened partially or completely from that point until the ball has left the hand. This definition shall not debar a bowler from flexing or rotating the wrist in the delivery swing.
On that reading Malinga is legal. But one fan noted: “If that’s the case the law should be rewritten whereby the language does get us back to the delivery stride making some reference to the ball being delivered from over the shoulder, and with a degree of elevation that stops us having to put up with the sight of Malinga’s delivery which owes more to baseball than to cricket.”
Sri Lankan fans couldn’t stand it when an Aussie paper had the following in its headline. “Murali’s magic touch lingers in Malinga.” The copy that followed said: “It was Malinga, a small but breathtaking slinger with an unusual action.”
As an Indian and an IPL fan, I will say that Malinga should not be cautioned, but immediately banned.
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rajesh said,
May 4, 2009 @ 6:11 pm
Even i feel the same when i see him bowling.
bennaz said,
June 9, 2009 @ 3:56 pm
i just had to look it up after seein his action
Ampie Ehlers said,
June 14, 2009 @ 9:34 pm
Should be banned. Not fair.
LordWabbit said,
November 24, 2009 @ 7:41 am
He’s chucking, I am sorry if his throwing style conforms to the strict letter of the rules, but he’s definately chucking the ball. At some points his arm is BARELY above his shoulder. Why don’t we just put a pitchers mound?
Yuvraj Singh said,
November 2, 2010 @ 12:01 am
He is chucking or they should stop that action it may be throwing how can person bat under that condition i respect Stuart Broad of England the rule should be the arm should be above his shoulder if team created 5 bowlers like that there will be no more cricket if will be throwing and i hope before this world cup they have to get decision about this or else i will not watch cricket anymore
DV said,
December 21, 2010 @ 7:19 am
U must be out of mind guys.
He bowls the same round arm action that waquar tait and few others are bowling.
But he brings his arm much more horizontally than vertically before the releasing of the ball.
It’s a matter of undersatnading bimechanics.
U can bowl faster when the arm is bent at elbow. But he doesnt do that.
If he gets his arms vertivcally he would rather bowl at 150 kmph.
If ICC officials think he is chucking they will look in to it.
If some one is famous its always vulnerable.
Kasun said,
January 2, 2011 @ 1:47 am
Thanks DV for your unbiased comment. Many fingers were pointed at Murali for chucking and he was tested number of times with advanced equipment as never before for any other bowler.. Finally he was okay.. If there is any doubt on Malinga’s action ICC will take care of it as ICC consists of specialists far better than you and me to make a call… Its up to you to decide whether you watch cricket in the future or not….
mykxman said,
March 1, 2011 @ 8:05 pm
Malinga is a definite chucker, I have watched 20/20 and am now watching the Cricket World Cup , Sri Lanka are now fielding two chuckers , worse still everybody is going into raptures because Malinga has two hat tricks , its not diffucult to get wickets when you cheat.
Judd lewis said,
March 2, 2011 @ 5:19 am
I have just been watching the highlights of the Kenya game and straight away it had me fetching for my iPhone to check is that sort of bowling legal? I am sorry to say that sort if action is chucking and unsporting. I don’t care what is being said but as a fan of cricket my whole life I have never seen that before go outside and try it yourself you don’t get the same feeling or bowling action it’s chucking and should be banned… I think people should write to the ICC to get action taken..
Alty K said,
March 2, 2011 @ 1:05 pm
Malinga, definitely chucks the ball. the rules of the book needs to be written with better clause and understanding.
Try this, Take a ball and throw it to a person standing at 22yards from you in 2 diff ways, One way is with your shoulder vertical to the ground, one is with your shoulder horizontal to the ground. you can decide which one comes in with more pace and which one needs more effort to throw.
Same with bowling.
Bowlers are trying to win with vertical shoulder movement, where as this dude is chucking side arm just because its not defined in the books.
If its not defined as yet, IT NEEDS TO BE DEFINED NOW and malinga should correct his action.
ehsan said,
March 3, 2011 @ 12:06 am
the biggest chucker around!
Scrooch said,
March 3, 2011 @ 3:59 am
This guys bowling is not cool.. i think he’s mos def cheating! He’s been cheating for years an he gets wickets! I say his action should be BANNED as well!
Raj said,
March 8, 2011 @ 10:10 am
hold on guys …
how long u have been watching cricket ?
i have been watching cricket since 1979 !
And i ve seen many slingers and side armers , i ve never seen a chuckers like murali or malinga … both deserves a ban
If you guys compare malinga with thompson or waqar , then you guys never knw wat is cricket !
Malinga throws the ball and murali sends javelin !
Ajay said,
March 9, 2011 @ 12:48 pm
Yes. He is really a chucker. ICC should test him immediately for an action before the knockout stage of this world cup. After the testing they should either come with a plan either to ban him or advise him to change his action.
It’s Up to ICC. If the ICC is not going to test his action, then it will be a shame for the world of cricket, because most of his suspected illegal deliveries are wicket taking ones and it will play a crucial role when sri lanka take other teams in the Knock out stage. The one for rule is the one for all. ICC should not allow a bowler to take wickets that easily than the other bowlers who are giving their heart and soul to take one. Requesting the cricket lovers to come forward to make ICC to test his action.
Jack said,
March 11, 2011 @ 5:14 am
Malinga cheats……………easy……..ban him
Jack said,
March 11, 2011 @ 5:19 am
All it would take to get him banned ( as I sincerely believe he should ) would be for a single repected team, like England or Australia, to walk off the field the moment he was elected to bowl. Malinga cheats………Sri Lanka cheat.
FGS stop it ICC !
Jack said,
March 11, 2011 @ 5:48 am
Malinga the Slinga
CHEAT CHEAT CHEAT
Asomathilake said,
March 19, 2011 @ 7:51 pm
Ok shut up guys!! there is no rule saying that the hand needs to be above the shoulder! and when he bowls do you see his hand bent?!?!? huh? NO!! It is perfectly straight and it slings!! So stop complaining and deal with it! I dont see how its illegal if his hand doesnt BEND AT ALL!? If you guys had someone like that in your team you wouldnt be saying this! So stop being jealous and accept the fact that we have more talented bowlers than you!
Ajay said,
March 28, 2011 @ 11:28 am
Boss.. There are lot of differences between a bowler rotates his arm 90 degree and 45 degree. The lesser he rotates his hand, the more power he gets to attack a batsmen. So World knows how Malinga’s deliveries are…He is not a talented cricketer..better fit to play street cricket..He should learn from other bowlers for a legal action..So there is no point in prasing him for the wickets he got over the years..Strange that ICC had allowed him to bowl so far..Bang this guy and test his deleivies for an action before this World Cup final…..
sadhun said,
April 1, 2011 @ 12:01 am
all i can say is that he does chuck!!!
brian james wilson said,
April 15, 2011 @ 11:28 pm
Should not the bowlers’ arm be perpendicular when the ball is released?
Malinga’s is a side swipe.
VI said,
April 27, 2011 @ 9:57 am
He is a chucker. I dont know how ICC is not stopping him from bowling.He should be banned from international cricket Otherwise many more will follow him.Its easy to bowl like this and to bowl with more speed and also its very difficult for the batsman.For the betterment of cricket he should be banned.
Harbajhan Singh said,
May 4, 2011 @ 11:37 pm
I play for the DLF IPL cricket team Mumbai Indians and play for the world cup for India. Lasith Malinga is a professional cricket player and his bowls are legal. His way of throwing technique is side-arm and when he throws the ball, it is not chucking. BECAUSE I play with Malinga in the DLF, recordings of slow motion have shown that it is not chucking.
Sachin Tendulkar said,
May 4, 2011 @ 11:40 pm
HE IS NOT CHUCKING! YUVRAJ, YOU SHOULD KNOW.
HSDF said,
May 4, 2011 @ 11:41 pm
HE AIN’T CHUCKING. PEOPLE WHO SAY HE IS ARE JEALOUS OF HIS THROWING TECHNIQUE
james gardin said,
May 4, 2011 @ 11:41 pm
who says hes chucking? even harbajhan and sachin said he isnt
Rahul said,
May 7, 2011 @ 9:58 am
He and ICC both are cheating cricket fans
vignesh said,
May 8, 2011 @ 9:19 am
i agree with the message……..he is not a slinger but he is a chucker…….don’t allow him to bowl at t20 cricket because most of the batsman are suffering to judge the balls that he bowling…………
Arvindh Shanmugam said,
May 8, 2011 @ 2:13 pm
If Sachin and Bhaji have really said that Malinga is not throwing, then it is biased because they play for the same IPL franchisee. I doubt whether Sachin and Bhaji know that there is so much debate going on about one of their trump cards. If IPL introduces URDS then Malinga will not get a second chance.
Arvindh Shanmugam said,
May 8, 2011 @ 2:17 pm
If IPL umpires review every wicket taking delivery by Malinga just like they reviewed Yogesh Nagar’s front foot no ball against JP Duminy the other day, then it will turn out that Malinga is neither bowling nor slinging but only throwing.
Anand said,
May 10, 2011 @ 4:43 pm
When the no ball rules related to arm was written, the world did not see him. Its simple, the rule needs to be written again. At the same time I do not think that the 15 degree business is fair. The arm needs to be straight, otherwise a day will come when even 20 degrees will be allowed. What a diplomatic way to handle a controversy.
The rule” This definition shall not debar a bowler from flexing or rotating the wrist in the delivery swing.” - does flexing wrist means a jerk? Slow motion of lot of players show a jerk before delivery.
Don Bradman said,
May 11, 2011 @ 4:54 pm
chucker
Deepanjan said,
May 21, 2011 @ 12:45 am
Malinga …. a complete nonsense bowler …. he actually not bowling he is ridiculing ICC …. which is again a complete loser body which allows itself to be ridiculed bu one national board or the other …..cmng. back to malinga all his records shd stand redundant from this day … and he shd be packed and sent to a remote island and best forgotten …. BAN him now
no brainer ?? said,
June 25, 2011 @ 8:23 pm
The term “Chuck” or “Throw” implies a bent arm .. anyone with the slightest understanding of sport could see thats impossible to achieve that with a slingy action as his .. not only have you got the terminology wrong but display complete ignorance .. how about coming up with some other excuse to ridicule him .. SOUR GRAPES !!
King Obama said,
July 26, 2011 @ 6:12 am
Obama says malinga is a baller who brakes the basmans toe and his little bat.
UGK said,
September 7, 2011 @ 1:54 am
It is sad that so many ignoramuses claim Malingas action has never been seen before in cricket and is therefore illegal. Thankfully the ICC has records that show that his round arm style was used over a 100 years ago. The overarm style was developed later because it was more accurate.
Anyone who says bowling with Malingas action gives an ‘unfair advantage’ dont know what they are talking about. Try playing an entire match with that action. You will bowl wide after wide after wide. Its incredibly difficult to control.
Another incorrect point people are making is that he is chucking because his arm is not going over his head. More nonsense. Chucking is dependent on how you bend your arm.
Calling murali a chucker is understandable because it looks that way in real time. Calling Malinga a chucker is just plain ignorance and possibly jealousy also.
dgramarao said,
November 17, 2011 @ 10:31 pm
in the case of malingas bowling by the time the ball leaves his hand it is much below his shoulders which is impossible when bowled ov er head
his ball leaveshis hand even as low as four feet from ground. This makes the ball go crazing the pitch by the time it nears crease. It is unfortunate that the board passed his action. Bowling action must be redefined and such faulty bowlers should be debarred from play