All of a sudden, international cricket is caught in an embroilment regarding the weirdest bowling action of particular bowlers
All of a sudden, international cricket is caught in an embroilment regarding the action of particular bowlers. The likes of Saeed Ajmal, Mohammed Hafeez and now Sunil Narine have been directed by the ICC, not to get involved with their respective teams unless and until their actions are not tweaked.
But why so late, dear ICC (International Cricket Council) There are many such bowlers who had a peculiar bowling action that left the batsman in bamboozlement. Cricket was not always a batsman’s game as these 10 bowlers tell us why:
Lasith Malinga
Sri Lankan cricket saw the emergence of Lasith Malinga, or fondly known as ‘The Slinga’ who has a round arm action and can often outthink the opposition batsman with either a slower delivery or a quickie! Malinga’s Yorkers are unplayable and that’s why he is one of the most effective death bowlers in world cricket today. The Sri Lankan T20 skipper was pulled up for suspected bowling action but that has not affected him one bit as the former continues to gather star following everywhere he goes.
Muttiah Muralitharan
One of the finest spinners ever produced, Muttiah Muralitharan bowled with a flick of the wrist in an outer direction and then released the ball. With a peculiar bowling action doubled with a strange facial expression, the batsman had tended to give away the wicket. In 1997, then-umpire Darrel Hair called a ‘no-ball’ for Murali’s delivery which is still remembered in cricketing history books.
Paul Adams
South African spinner Paul Adams consisted one of the weirdest actions in international cricket with his head pointing towards the sky and bending down at the final stride of action. Adams had a very limited stint in national colours as the spinner finally played his last Test in 2004.
Abdul Qadir
One of the greatest spinners, Pakistan cricket has ever produced; Abdul Qadir was a hit with his wrist spin in the 70s and 80s. Qadir bowled with a variety of deliveries with a straight arm action that left the batsman confused at the crease. But soon, it was revealed that Qadir’s action was planned to distract the opponent.
Sohail Tanvir
Another Pakistani pacer who has a diverse bowling action is Sohail Tanvir. The left-arm pacer, who often leaves the batsman in tatters, bowls with a quick arm action that comes onto the bat so quickly that the batsman at the crease has very limited time to thin.
Colin Croft
West Indies pacers of the 70s and 80s era were quite dominating and vicious as well and one of them was the tall and lanky Colin Croft. Croft’s bowling action saw him create an angle at the crease and release the ball inward aimed to the stumps but almost directing the batsman. Moreover, Croft was known to inflict wounds to the batsman with his high-arm action.
Jeff Thomson
The Aussies were never short of creativity and one of its prime examples was speedster Jeff Thompson. Much before the Brett Lee’s and Jason Gillespie’s, Thomson had a slow run up which would end with a fast release of the ball that was pretty much aimed at the batsman.
Saeed Ajmal
Currently serving a ban from the ICC, Saeed Ajmal slower run up at the bowling crease which was a ‘stop and then release’ action. The spinner had backed that up with many variations to his delivery that often left the batsman bamboozled.
Johan Botha
Former South Africa skipper, Johan Botha too carried an unusual bowling action that involved the former’s wrists rather than fingers. Botha’s bowling was a rather quick and fast and thus was often hit aplenty in the final overs of the game.
Mike Proctor
This Protea legend who then went on to became a match official, Mike Proctor began as a pacer who had an open-chested bowling stance. Soon injuries ravaged his playing career and Proctor was unfortunately forced to spin bowling.
