Date-stamped : 02 Jan96 - 14:35 MURALITHARAN CONTROVERSY DOMINATES BRITISH PAPERS By Ivan Corea in London The Sri Lankan spinner`s controversy in Australia hit the headlines of both the British broadsheets and tabloid newspapers. The whole issue of Muttiah Muralitharan and his arm action dominated the sports columns of all the daily newspapers and on cable television. ` The London Times` ran a lead article titled Sri Lanka spinner called for throwing and even `The Sun` had a major story titled Sri Lanka are thrown in a spin. Most of the articles homed in on Australia`s controversial um- pire Darrell Hair and the fact that he no-balled Muralitharan seven times in three overs. Hair was accused by South Africa of bias and he even received death threats during the series. Australia have now completed a hat-trick of accusations by criticising India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka of cheating. However their ball tampering accusation was overturned by the ICC. Muralitharan has not been called in 59 matches. Some commenta- tors here have called for neutral umpires to cover all Test matches in Australia. The Sri Lankan Board of Control for Crick- et must take this matter up with the ICC as soon as possible. The controversy comes at a time when the Sri Lanka Cricket team has been voted the Best Team for 1995 by readers of the Eastern Eye newspaper in the UK and Aravinda de Silva scooped second place in the Sports Personality for 1995. The Sun newspaper in its report stated: ``Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is fighting for his Test future after being ac- cused of throwing the ball. Muralitharan was no-balled seven times in the space of three overs for using an illegal bowling action during his side`s Second test with Australia in Melbourne. And he now faces being kicked out of top-class cricket unless he changes his style. Not alarming Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore insisted: ``I believe his action is legitimate. It is a defect from birth, he can`t straighten his arm. ``I filmed him from six different angles and some of them looked suspicious - but not alarming enough to make modifica- tion.`` Hair is no stranger to controversy. He received death threats two years ago during Australia`s series with South Africa after making controversial decisions. In an article written by the sports staff of the prestigious London Times the newspaper examined Muralitharan`s awkward style: The Australian umpire Darrell Hair, called Muralitharan, 23, seven times in the space of three overs. He was the first bowler called in a Test in Australia since Ian Meckiff 32 years ago. In the Bris- bane match against South Africa, Colin Egar called the fast bowler four times in his only over and Meckiff never played representative cricket again. A bowler is said to have thrown the ball under law 24.2 (note A) if, in the opinion of either umpire, ``the process of straighten- ing the bowling arm, whether it be partial or complete, takes place during that part of the delivery swing which precedes the ball leav- ing the hand``. Muralitharan has an awkward bent-arm style, for which the Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore, an Australian, has an explanation. ``It is a defect from birth - he can`t straighten his arm. When I took over as coach. I filmed him from six different angles and some of them looked suspicious but not alarming to make any modifications.`` Source:: Lake House/Lanka Internet Services Contributed by vg (vpg0001@jove.acs.unt.edu)