da 888casino： Bruce Elliott, the biomechanist at the University of Western Australia, has admitted that his research has so far not produced clear-cut conclusions regarding the legality ofMuutiah Muralitharan’s controversial doosra
Charlie Austin09-Apr-2004
The verdict on Muttiah Muralitharan’s doosra will be out soon© Getty Images
Bruce Elliott, the biomechanist at the University of Western Australia, has admitted that his research has so far not produced clear-cut conclusions regarding the legality ofMuttiah Muralitharan’s controversial doosra. Elliott will sit down withfellow scientists at the University of Western Australia and finalise theanalysis by Tuesday.Earlier reports claimed that the Sri Lankan board already knew the verdict. ButElliott told Guardian newspaper on Friday: “We have given Murali apreliminary report with some numbers. I can’t say it is as clear as sayingthere is zero degrees [of straightening] but one needs to look at everything intotality and in a package.”I have provided the test scores to Murali and Daryl Foster [the Australian bowling analyst] but I have not spoken to anyone from Sri Lanka. Our report will be finished by next Tuesday and will be emailed to Sri Lankathen.”Elliott confirmed that Muralitharan had returned to the university to repeatthe tests after originally bowling 28 deliveries which were filmed by 12 high-speedcameras. The tests were repeated after concerns were raised in the media that he might have been bowling slower than he normally did in Test cricket. A speed gun was usedduring the second set of tests.Elliott was adamant though that a bowler could not fool the cameras: “I cannot guarantee that he will not throw in a Test match but I am very confident that what we collected is an accurate reflection of what he does in the middle. The rotation speed of his arm wasso high – as much as many fast bowlers, including Pakistan’s Shabbir Ahmed, whowas here for testing recently – that I am confident he was bowling normally.”The results of the two test sessions were similar and Elliott, who had earlier stated that he was skeptical of Muralitharan’s ability to bowl the doosra withoutstraightening his arm, admitted that he had been surprised bycomputer images that showed him bowling with a more round-arm action thanexpected.”He is very relaxed for someone who has as much pressure on him,” Elliottsaid. “He fervently believes that he doesn’t extend his arm. He has suchrotational ability with his wrist, his strange elbow and in his shoulderthat it is quite possible that it is an optical illusion.”