WELLINGTON, 17 November 2004 — The International Cricket Council’s assertion that greats such as Sir Richard Hadlee, Dennis Lillee and Imran Khan threw the ball is “grossly insulting and degrading to the history of cricket”, former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith charged yesterday. “The trio would have been utterly shocked with such allegations. To be heaped with praise over the years and having been named in the best teams in the world then be called a chucker is an absolute insult,” he said.
An ICC committee of former Test players, supported by scientific equipment found that almost every international bowler straightened his arm at some stage in their delivery and recommended a new rule allowing bowlers to straighten their arms by up to 15 degrees.
The ICC committee found that even Steve Harmison, Glenn McGrath and Shaun Pollock are chuckers under existing rules, while Lillee, Khan, Hadlee, Fred Trueman and Ian Botham also threw the ball.
Smith, now a television commentator, said the ICC had let the issue of chucking get out of hand over the years. “The use of scientists has transgressed the rules to the letter of the law by degrading not only fast bowling but also Hadlee, Lillee and company who have been purists and models for bowlers,” he said.
Smith who played 63 Tests and 98 One-Day Internationals for New Zealand from 1980-92, added that it was a “ludicrous system now that is pointing fingers at great bowlers with flippant comments”.
He did not agree that the proposal to allow up to a 15-degree of bending of the bowling arm could mean injecting some excitement and entertainment into a code notorious for its rigid rules.
“Allowing bowlers to chuck the ball will also mean the dismissal of batsmen. Why should the batsmen be on the receiving end?” he said.
Pakistan Drop Veteran Wicketkeepers Moin, Latif for Australia Tour
In Karachi, Pakistan selectors yesterday dropped experienced wicketkeepers Moin Khan and Rashid Latif from a list of 25 probables announced for the team’s tour of Australia starting next month.
“Kamran Akmal will be the only wicketkeeper on the Australian tour because captain Inzamam-ul-Haq is satisfied with his performance,” chief selector Wasim Bari told AFP. “Since we are looking to the future we must try Akmal on this tough tour,” he said.
The final squad of 16 will be announced on Nov. 24. Pakistan will play three Tests and also feature in a tri-series one-day tournament, involving hosts Australia and the West Indies. Pakistan will open the tour with a one-day side game on Dec. 7 and then a four-day game from Dec. 9-12 — both at Perth — before playing the first Test at Perth from Dec. 16.
The 33-year-old Moin was dropped after a poor run of form with the bat in Pakistan’s home series against Sri Lanka last month, making way for the 22-year-old Kamran.
Latif has not played since opting out of the Test series against South Africa for personal reasons last year. Experienced pacer Shabbir Ahmed is listed in the team after fully recovering from a knee operation, which forced him out of action for nearly three months.
Opener Yasir Hameed, dropped from last week’s one-off limited overs international against India, is also back in the reckoning.
Three uncapped players — batsman Aamir Bashir, opener Ashar Zaidi and left arm pacer Mohammad Khalil — are also in the probables.
