da apostebet： Bedi, speaking to Wisden Asia Cricket , said: “If Murali doesn’t chuck, then show me how to bowl
CricInfo staff05-Feb-2002Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore jumped to the defense of his prize bowlerMuttiah Muralitharan on Tuesday after former Indian spin great Bishen Bedilikened the off-spinner’s action to that of a “good javelin thrower.”Bedi, speaking to , said: “If Murali doesn’t chuck, then show me how to bowl. How can you call it bowling? He (Muralitharan) has nofollow-through and he makes no use of his shoulders. He looks like a goodjavelin thrower.”Whatmore, both surprised and annoyed by Bedi’s comments, said: “The teamwere 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 detailbefore and experts have cleared his action.”It’s sad really that a fellow, who was a good bowler in his day, wishes toavoid the indisputable facts. It’s a negative for cricket in general.”It’s nearly three years since the last controversy over Muralitharan’saction, when he was no balled by umpire Ross Emerson in a one-day game atAdelaide.”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 hadbeen given special treatment because of a congenital deformity in his rightelbow, saying: “Some people are born blind… Will a blind man be allowed tofly an aircraft? So why should a bowler be allowed to chuck because he has adefective arm?””Muralitharan has a disability in his right arm,” said Whatmore. “He has nooption but to live with it. However, the defect doesn’t mean anything otherthan he can’t fully straighten his arm.”The Sri Lankan born, Australian raised Whatmore, who has coachedMuralitharan for Sri Lanka and Lancashire for nearly six years, revealedthat 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 allbeen scrutinised in much detail before and he is free of guilt having beencleared by experts. He was the full support of the team, coach, physio andmanagement and will just get on with his cricket.