“He is banned from bowling in international cricket, effective immediately”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Sri Lanka spinner Sachithra Senanayake has been banned from bowling in international matches after his action was deemed illegal by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Senanayake was reported for a suspicious bowling action on May 31 and underwent tests in Cardiff. However, the results indicated that he exceeded the 15 degree flex limit in all four of his deliveries.

“The Standard ICC Illegal Action Testing Protocol was used to assess the degree of elbow extension from the point of upper arm horizontal to ball release within the bowling action,” a Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) release said. “[The] 15-degree elbow extension threshold was exceeded in the four deliveries considered to be suspect in the 4th ODI played at Lords.

“The report concludes that Sachithra bowled with an illegal bowling action and consequently he is banned from bowling in international cricket, effective immediately.”

Senanayake now has 14 days to request a hearing with the Bowling Review Group, which consists of a human-movement specialist, a former player, a former umpire, a current match referee and two ICC officials.

If Senanayake doesn’t request a hearing, he will have to undergo remedial work on his action before he is allowed to start bowling in international matches again.

This is not the first time Senanayake’s action has been tested. In 2011 he was cleared after undergoing biomechanical tests at the University of Western Australia.