Biomechanic expert calls new chucking rules flawed

SYDNEY, Apr 3 (UNI): His research was instrumental in the recent change of ICC chucking laws but biomechanic expert Rene Ferdinands thinks the new set of rules is also not competent enough to curb the menace of "throwing".

The Sun-Herald quoted Ferdinands who does collaborative research with the University of Waikato and University of Auckland saying the new laws need to be rewritten immediately and has sent his finding to the ICC.

Himself a former first class cricketer, Ferdinands' research into throwing was instrumental behind the introduction of a uniform 15-degree elbow-straightening for both fast and slow bowlers.

Ferdinand conducted a study of 80 cricketers and found bowlers were able to have an appreciably flexed arm before the arm was level with the shoulder, then just extend the elbow less than 15 degrees to the release, and then extend up to 30 degrees after the release - making it legal, the daily reported.

"The testing we've done shows that bowlers can basically perform a throwing action and do it legally.

The implications are huge.

The extreme result would be it radically changes the way bowling technique is taught," he said.

"Fast bowlers would use much shorter run-ups because they'd have a far more efficient way of delivering the ball quickly, with a slightly modified throw.

This means that fast bowlers could actually bowl for longer spells." "Finger spinners would be more accurate and could bowl much faster.

There would be more doosras in the game.

Batsmen could find the game much more difficult, and dangerous.

The game could alter quite radically, the way the rules are now, and I don't think it's a good idea to allow that to happen," he opined.

"Either the ICC allows it and totally alters the game or there needs to be a statement that the elbow extension angle legislation is only provisional." "All you have to do to throw legally is slightly change the way you would normally throw.

Have your elbow at about 40 degrees at the shoulder rather than 90.

We have already found that chuckers can bowl within this elbow extension limit with such a technique.

The problem is that there could be bowlers in world cricket that are doing something similar, and they may not be caught under the current law." "If you're a fast bowler or spinner, you'd be silly not to start using this to your advantage.

Short-pitched bowling could be particularly lethal with such a technique," Ferdinands warned.