Ajmal's doosra was always a wrong 'un

Former SA players agree with the decision to ban Saeed Ajmal from bowling, but question why that has taken so long and say cricket will have to find more effective measures to put a stop to chucking.

The International Cricket Council said yesterday an "independent analysis" conducted by a team of human movement specialists at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, Australia, had found the Pakistani off-spinner's action "to be illegal".

"The analysis revealed that all his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the guidelines," the ICC said.

Ajmal, the No1 ranked bowler in one-day internationals and the mainstay of Pakistan's attack, was reported for a suspect action after the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle last month.

That was his 35th Test. He has also played 111 ODIs and 63 T20 internationals. In 2009, moreover, Ajmal's doosra fell foul of the regulations. However, he was cleared to resume bowling the delivery a month later.

For former SA batsman Jimmy Cook, that much smoke indicated a fire that had burned untended for too long.

"I've always thought he's looked a little suspect, but why has it taken so long for this to happen?" Cook asked yesterday.

"It's not as if he's changed his action or that the problem has got worse in the past few years.

"It's sad for him because he is a great bowler, but if his action is illegal then it's illegal."

Ajmal is among five international bowlers who have been reported or banned since July, which for Cook was indicative of a trend.

"There's been a spate of them recently and there seems to be a crackdown, but this should be an ongoing thing," he said.

Since February 2005, the ICC has allowed bowlers to flex their elbows up to 15 degrees - the point at which umpires are able to spot a dodgy action with the naked eye.

Cook favoured that thinking because "it's good to have something to measure this by".

But it was not the answer for another former SA Test batsman, Barry Richards, who said yesterday he had "always had doubts about [Ajmal's] doosra" and asked pointedly: "Who knows what 15 degrees is?"

Richards wondered whether wearable technology that could differentiate between bowling and throwing was the answer.

"Until they develop a uniform these guys can bowl in - a kind of sleeve, which I believe they're working on - this will be an issue," he said.

The ICC started developing the device in 2012, which it said at the time uses inertial sensors to "produce a process capable of measuring bowlers' actions in a match environment".

But, an ICC spokesman said yesterday: "It is a work in progress and a lot of water needs to pass under the bridge before it is rolled out in international cricket."

Ajmal told reporters in Faisalabad, Pakistan, yesterday that the game had not seen the last of him, banned or not.

"I am positive about this and not worried because I believe I can make the World Cup," Ajmal said. "They are yet to consider my medical reports and once they do it I am sure there shouldn't be any problem.

"If one has a medical problem then what can he do?

"So I am 100% positive and hoping for the best."