Botha Reported for Action!

South African stand-in skipper Botha was reported for a suspected illegal bowling action. After the fourth ODI, the match officials reported him for his action. He will undergo a bio-mechanical assessment of his action. Until results are announced, he is eligible to play international cricket.

The report was filed by the three umpires officiating Monday's one-dayer - South Africans Brian Jerling and Rudi Koertzen, and Sri Lanka's Asoka de Silva - who cited concerns over Botha's quicker ball and doosra. Botha will be tested within 21 days after CSA receives a formal notice from the ICC.

"I have put a lot of work into my action," Botha said during the recent one-day series in Australia. "It probably took 10 months from my first test to the one I passed. I still have (the doosra), but I probably don't bowl it as much as I used to. Definitely, it is possible to bowl it legally."

"My doosra actually tested lower than my off spinner for elbow extension. I think my doosra was at 9 per cent, and my offie was at 11 per cent, which are both well below the limit. With the doosra, your wrist cocks to a point where it is actually harder to extend your elbow. I just use it better than I did in the past."

(source: www.cricinfo.com)

So far, Muralitharan (from Sri Lanka) and Harbhajan Singh (from India) were already reported for illegal action. They were cleared and now Botha, another off-spinner has entered the list.