Glenn Mcgrath Bowling Action Was Dubious and Suspicious: Matthews
Former Australian Test spinner Greg Matthews has made the stunning claim that Glenn McGrath threw the ball during his career.
McGrath – who starred with the ball in a one-off charity Twenty20 match against the current Australian lineup last weekend – was one of several Test bowlers who occasionally "chucked", according to Matthews, who also claimed Muttiah Muralitharan’s doosra was "impossible" to bowl with a straight arm.
"Tim May informed me that he went with Michael Holding, Ian Botham and two other gentlemen to an ICC function where they looked at all bowling actions from around the globe. Tim came back from that meeting and told me that Glenn McGrath throws occasionally," Matthews told BigPond Sports Weekend.
"It's impossible to have an absolutely perpendicular arm when you're delivering the cricket ball so they made a rule to allow for fifteen degrees but I can’t say why."
Controversial Sri Lankan star Muralitharan has defended himself from chucking claims by arguing he could not physically straighten his arm – a claim Matthews also denies.
"There is footage of Muralitharan bowling in the practice nets at Lords where he’s bowling medium pace and has a dead straight arm, I've seen it," he said.
"You can’t bowl a doosra or a top spinner with a straight arm – it’s impossible."
But the former off-spinner refused to identify any current Australian players with dubious actions, saying: "No, I'm not going to give up any Australians."
McGrath – who starred with the ball in a one-off charity Twenty20 match against the current Australian lineup last weekend – was one of several Test bowlers who occasionally "chucked", according to Matthews, who also claimed Muttiah Muralitharan’s doosra was "impossible" to bowl with a straight arm.
"Tim May informed me that he went with Michael Holding, Ian Botham and two other gentlemen to an ICC function where they looked at all bowling actions from around the globe. Tim came back from that meeting and told me that Glenn McGrath throws occasionally," Matthews told BigPond Sports Weekend."It's impossible to have an absolutely perpendicular arm when you're delivering the cricket ball so they made a rule to allow for fifteen degrees but I can’t say why."
Controversial Sri Lankan star Muralitharan has defended himself from chucking claims by arguing he could not physically straighten his arm – a claim Matthews also denies.
"There is footage of Muralitharan bowling in the practice nets at Lords where he’s bowling medium pace and has a dead straight arm, I've seen it," he said.
"You can’t bowl a doosra or a top spinner with a straight arm – it’s impossible."
But the former off-spinner refused to identify any current Australian players with dubious actions, saying: "No, I'm not going to give up any Australians."