CRICKET: Former Malahide and Ireland off-spinner Johan Botha, who has just made his Test debut for South Africa against Australia in Sydney, has been reported for a suspected illegal bowling action by the match officials.
The report was made by umpires Billy Bowden and Aleem Dar, television match official Bob Parry and match referee Chris Broad after completion of the match yesterday, which the Australians won by eight wickets. It is believed Botha is accused of "chucking" and will now be forced to undergo rigorous independent tests to clear his name.
"Concerns have been raised by the match officials over the general legality of his bowling action and, in particular, his 'doosra' and quicker deliveries when viewed with the naked eye," said Broad in a statement yesterday.
"We are therefore requesting the ICC to commission a bio-mechanical report into the bowler's action in accordance with the process introduced last year," he said.
The report will be handled under the ICC's standard bowling review process.
Botha will now face analysis of his action by a member of the ICC's panel of human movement specialists.
According to an ICC spokesman, this process will take place "as soon as practically possible, and within a maximum period of 21 days from receipt by the United Cricket Board of South Africa of formal notice of the report by the ICC".
Within 14 days of the independent analysis being carried out, the appointed specialist will supply the ICC with a written report advising the outcome of the bio-mechanical assessment. This will confirm whether the action used by the off-spinner in the third Test match was legal or illegal.
This will come as a big blow to the 23-year-old Eastern Province bowler who has had experienced a rapid rise to Test cricket after switching to off-spin from medium pace two years ago. Botha spent last summer as club professional at Malahide Cricket Club in Dublin and was called into the Irish team as an overseas player for their Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy match against Yorkshire in Stormont.
He has just completed his debut Test match where he took two wickets (Michael Hussey in the first innings and Matthew Hayden in the second) and made a quick-fire 20 not out. He had been called into the side to replace spinner Nicky Boje who was dropped for the third and final Test in the Sydney Cricket Ground.
It is believed that for the time being he will remain with the South Africa team as they conclude the present tour with several one-day internationals against Australia and Sri Lanka.
If he is found to have been bowling with an illegal action he will be suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect. He would then have the option of applying to the ICC for a re-assessment of his bowling action at any time in order to return to bowling in international cricket. In the meantime, he will be free to play until the report has been completed.
