Australian cricketer Matthew Kuhnemann's recent report for a suspect bowling action during a Test series in Sri Lanka has sparked global attention within the cricket community regarding the compliance of bowling actions. A world-leading expert in cricket biomechanics is calling for increased scrutiny of suspect bowling actions worldwide to ensure the fairness and standardization of the game.
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02-24, 2025Kuhnemann has undergone laboratory testing at the National Cricket Centre by a panel of experts appointed by the International Cricket Council (ICC), with the results expected to be released this week. Dr. Rene Ferdinands, a biomechanics lecturer at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Medicine and Health, stated that Kuhnemann's case should set a precedent and be applied equally to all bowlers in the world of cricket. He emphasized that all players should be subject to the same standards of review and enforcement to avoid the application of selective or inconsistent reporting criteria.
Dr. Ferdinands pointed out that the ICC match officials' report on Kuhnemann does not necessarily mean his bowling action is illegal, but simply that an investigation is warranted. He believes that the fact that Kuhnemann was reported indicates that the system is functioning, but he believes that there are other bowlers with suspect bowling actions in international cricket. To ensure the fairness and effectiveness of the process, these bowlers should also be subject to the same level of scrutiny as Kuhnemann.
According to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) current laws regarding throwing, a delivery is deemed illegal if "the player's elbow extends by more than 15 degrees between the point at which the arm reaches horizontal and the point at which the ball is released." Dr. Ferdinands' earlier research played a significant role in the formulation of the 15-degree rule. He warns that even within the existing legal framework, fast bowlers may still be at risk of illegal throwing. He has expressed concerns about this since the ICC introduced the 15-degree rule in 2005.
Dr. Ferdinands emphasized that testing for bowlers needs to be conducted in real match environments, not just in laboratories. He believes that laboratory testing should only serve as a supplement to on-field assessments of bowling legality, used to confirm observed issues. He hopes that Kuhnemann's case can serve as a precedent and be consistently applied to the evaluation of other players' bowling actions. He calls on the cricket community to prioritize the standardization of bowling actions and ensure that all players are subject to fair scrutiny, thereby safeguarding the integrity and healthy development of the game.
