Buchanan supports bowling law-change

John Buchanan, Australia's coach, feels that the change in the bowling laws could give bowlers greater variety, and this, in turn, would make batsmen play differently. The ICC's recent law-change for what constitutes a legal delivery had been criticised by past and present players, but Buchanan's positive assessment meant that the ICC had at least one of modern-day cricket's most influential figures on its side.

After comprehensive testing, the ICC recommended that bowlers could straighten their arm up to 15 degrees. Muttiah Muralitharan's doosra, a delivery that some reckoned explored that boundries of legality, was tested at 14 degrees earlier this year. Buchanan said that if Muralitharan's delivery, as well as others, was now permitted, it would add to the game.

"I believe it's exciting what Murali, Harbhajan and Shoaib, and whoever else that has been under investigation, what they do in their bowling," Buchanan said to AFP. "If bowlers can actually increase the variety of the type of deliveries they can bowl, then that's a good thing for the game, because that means batsmen have got to counter that with their own skills.

"It may mean that captains have got something else to work with. In a sense I think there's a real gain in it if it's handled correctly."

Policing bowlers has also been an issue raised by people with an interest in the game. Shane Warne recently asked, "I think it might [create confusion]. How does an umpire tell if it's 12 degrees, 10 degrees, nine, 13, 14, whatever it is when it happens like that?"

Tim May, a representative of the ICC panel that recommended that the law be changed, said that advanced technology and stricter guidelines would be put in place next year. He added that bowlers would have a fresh start with regards to reports for suspect actions.