Date-stamped : 31 Dec95 - 18:31
ALLAN BORDER THINKS IT WAS A BIT OF A `SET UP`

Bernie Wijesekera reporting from Australia

The Mutthiah Muralideran,  controversy  took  a   new   turn   on
Wednesday  when  Aussie  umpire  Hair threatened to call him even
from the square-leg position if he continued to bowl   after  tea
(Dec.  27).

The tour management headed by  Duleep   Mendis,   behind   locked
doors  deliberated the latest development, but failed to  come to
a decision.

Mendis told the Daily News (today) it  has   become   an   issue,
whether  we  are  going  to persist with `Murali` in the next few
games _ the one-dayers umpired by Australian umpires.

The tour management will decide on this  issue  after  getting  a
confirmation from Colombo headquarters Mendis added.

Q: Are you going to send him home? That`s not on  the  cards   at
this juncture. He will not bowl at the MCG, he said.

Allan Border, who has played more tests than anyone, had  this to
say in the Herald Sun today (Dec. 28). `He pitied the bowler.  `I
think it`s a bit of a set up, `Border said on radio 2 UE.  I   am
not  convinced  that  he  straightens  his elbow all the time. `I
think occasion- ally he might _ which constitutes a throw  _  but
if  I was an  umpire  I wouldn`t be prepared to call him. `I just
feel  sorry  for  this  young bloke!` (And) I feel sorry for  the
umpire  because  obviously  he`s  been, you know, would to do it,
`Border adds.

Besides Border, former Australian players  were  more   sympethic
towards Sri Lanka and defended the Sri Lankan spinner.

Source :: Lake House/Lanka Internet Services

<END> Contributed by vg (vpg0001@jove.acs.unt.edu)