Chancing your arm for a spin
Cricket journalist Sir Neville Cardus spoke of the laws of cricket being a compromise between freedom and a general legality. This is no more true than in determining whether a bowler is throwing the ball or not.
Although the 15º law was introduced to monitor how much a bowler bends his arm during delivery, accurately establishing how much freedom to give them within legal limits is still highly controversial.
In the past, umpires made the call on the field.
Although some playing careers were ended right there and then, would this not still be the best method?
Perhaps, but with today's television coverage and the intense scrutiny that comes with it, no umpire would want to make such a call. The end-result is that the laws don't provide a conclusive answer and neither do scientific testing procedures, because they are conducted in a controlled environment.
When the law was changed, the International Cricket Council stepped in and put processes in place. A bowler is first cited by the umpires and the match referees, reports are then submitted to the governing body, testing procedures are put in place and remedial measures are prescribed.
But what does this achieve when in a controlled environment all you do is simply straighten your arm? The word from players who have been tested is that you play ball and sooner than later you will be back on the field and flirting with the offside line again.
Yes, if you are cited once again more punitive measures are put in place. But, in the meantime, be smart with the chuck and don't overuse it. So, the cheats thrive, just a little bit wiser and smarter.
Some may wonder what the big fuss is all about. Former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar could within an over up his pace by 20km/h with no real change in his run-up.
Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, in the early part of his career when he wasn't under scrutiny, could spin the ball prodigiously even on the flattest of wickets.
Johan Botha was destined to be just another first-class cricketer before he discovered he had the skill and ability to bowl the doosra. One ball and a flexible elbow changed his career forever.
So, what is the answer? The only way to establish if a bowler is throwing or not is in competition. Imagine what would be required to measure every ball being bowled in international cricket at any given time. I don't even think such technology exists and the cost of it would be astronomical.
Perhaps the best that cricket can do is what it's doing now. But the point is careers are prospering and unfair advantage is being gained through illegality. How can this be right? The ICC needs to take stronger measures and this may mean going back to the naked eye.