Page "Muttiah Muralitharan" Paragraph 3

Muralitharan's career has been beset with controversy ; his bowling action called into question on a number of occasions by umpires and sections of the cricket community.

After biomechanical analysis under simulated playing conditions, Muralitharan's action was cleared by the International Cricket Council, first in 1996 and again in 1999.

Former Australian Test player, Bruce Yardley, who himself was an off spinner in his day, was assigned with the task of ensuring Muralitharan bowled all his deliveries with the same vigour as he would do so in match conditions when tested in 2004.

Muralitharan had not commenced bowling the doosra at this time.

The legality of his doosra was first called into question in 2004.

This delivery was found to exceed the ICC elbow extension limit by nine degrees, five degrees being the limit for spinners at that time.

Based on official studies into bowling actions, which revealed that 99 % of bowlers whose actions were examined exceeded the elbow flexion limits, ICC revised the limits applying to all bowlers in 2005.

Muralitharan's doosra falls within the revised limits.