Sri Lankan coach admits to being astonished by Bishen Bedi outburst

CricInfo staff

May 5, 2002

Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore jumped to the defense of his prize bowler Muttiah Muralitharan on Tuesday after former Indian spin great Bishen Bedi likened the off-spinner's action to that of a "good javelin thrower."

Bedi, speaking to Wisden Asia Cricket, said: "If Murali doesn't chuck, then show me how to bowl. How can you call it bowling? He (Muralitharan) has no follow-through and he makes no use of his shoulders. He looks like a good javelin thrower."

Whatmore, both surprised and annoyed by Bedi's comments, said: "The team were astonished and disappointed to hear such comments come out of the blue. It's like living in the past. This issue has been dealt with in detail before and experts have cleared his action.

"It's sad really that a fellow, who was a good bowler in his day, wishes to avoid the indisputable facts. It's a negative for cricket in general."

It's nearly three years since the last controversy over Muralitharan's action, when he was no balled by umpire Ross Emerson in a one-day game at Adelaide.

"I don't why the issue has suddenly arisen again," questioned Whatmore. "Perhaps it's a reaction to him taking 400 Test wickets?"

Whatmore was also taken aback by Bedi's insinuation that Muralitharan had been given special treatment because of a congenital deformity in his right elbow, saying: "Some people are born blind... Will a blind man be allowed to fly an aircraft? So why should a bowler be allowed to chuck because he has a defective arm?"

"Muralitharan has a disability in his right arm," said Whatmore. "He has no option but to live with it. However, the defect doesn't mean anything other than he can't fully straighten his arm."

The Sri Lankan born, Australian raised Whatmore, who has coached Muralitharan for Sri Lanka and Lancashire for nearly six years, revealed that Muralitharan was aware of the comments and not unduly worried by them.

"Murali is frustrated that this has been dragged up again. But this has all been scrutinised in much detail before and he is free of guilt having been cleared by experts. He was the full support of the team, coach, physio and management and will just get on with his cricket.

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