Lawson Action Reported to ICC

Mon, May 12, '03

The ICC has confirmed that West Indian fast bowler Jermaine Lawson is on report for a suspect bowling action.

The report was made by Umpires Shepherd and Venkataraghavan after reviewing footage of Lawson's action taken on the first day of the Fourth Test between Australia and the West Indies in Antigua.

ICC Match Referee, Mike Procter has since informed both the ICC and the player's team management of the decision, as per the ICC regulations governing the reporting process.

"The umpires asked to review footage of Lawson?s action from the first day?s play. After reviewing the footage today the umpires have now reported the bowler to the ICC," said Procter.

"This issue now comes under the ICC?s regulations dealing with this matter and over the next six weeks Lawson and the West Indies Cricket Board will have the opportunity to work on any areas of concern. Lawson will be able to continue to play during this time."

The umpires nominated a number of deliveries that were of concern including over 19, ball 2; over 21, balls 2,3, and 6; over 23, ball 4; over 25, ball 4; over 33, ball 5; over 37, ball 1; over 67, balls 2 and 4; and over 71, balls 1 and 2.

The ICC's regulations detail a two-stage process for bowlers reported for suspect actions.

Lawson is now under stage one of the process, which allows Lawson to continue to play international cricket while working with specialist advisors to be appointed by his home Board and a human movement specialist from an ICC specialist panel to review his bowling action. This stage will last up to six weeks.

At the end of this time, a detailed report will be compiled by the West Indies Cricket Board and submitted to the ICC. This will then be circulated to all ICC Match Referees and Elite Panel umpires for information and reference.

No further report can be lodged within this six week period, however, the bowler remains subject to being "called" on the field by an umpire in accordance with the laws of the game.

Stage Two of the process applies if, after the six week period expires, a second report is lodged.

A formal hearing is then held by the ICC's Bowling Review Group (BRG) and the player may be banned from the game for 12 months or until the BRG is satisfied that the concerns with his action are rectified before the expiration of this time.

Stages One and Two of the ICC Reporting process are as follows:

Stage One
The home Board shall instruct their bowling advisors working with a human movement specialist appointed by the home Board from the ICC panel of specialists to review the report and work with the player to correct his action.

The home Board advisors, together with the human movement specialist, will complete an assessment of the bowler?s action in accordance with the ICC?s Standard Analysis Protocols, and submit a written assessment including relevant video footage to ICC within six weeks from the date of receipt by the home Board of the report. Any video footage taken by the home Board shall also be submitted with the assessment. The home Board shall provide its player with a copy of the assessment and any video evidence.

Throughout this period the player will be permitted to continue playing. At any time throughout this period the player is subject to being called on the field by the umpire in terms of Law 24 and the consequences of such Law must apply. However for the purposes of this procedure a second report may not be made until expiry of the six-week period.

A summary of the home Board's assessment will be circulated to the ICC panel of umpires and referees, within 14 days of its receipt by the ICC.

Stage Two
If the player is reported a second time the reporting procedure above will apply and in addition the Bowling Review Group will meet and hold a hearing to determine the legality of the player?s bowling action.

The hearing will be held as soon as reasonably possible, but at least within 28 days of receipt of a second report .The ICC shall be responsible for determining the time and place for the hearing and shall ensure that the player, through the player?s home board is given reasonable notice of the time and place of the hearing.

Throughout the period after the second report, and before the hearing, the player will be permitted to continue playing. At any time throughout this period the player is subject to being called on the field by the umpire in terms of Law 24 and the consequences of such Law must apply.

The player will attend the hearing. However, if the player has received notice of the hearing and fails to attend the hearing, the hearing may, at the absolute discretion of the chairman of the Bowling Review Group, proceed in the absence of the player.

The player shall be entitled to a representative who shall be entitled to attend the hearing. The Bowling Review Group will consider the following:

• the video evidence obtained from reports one and two.

• the relevant umpires? or referees written reports.

• the home Board advisors? assessment together with any video evidence accompanying such assessment.

• any further evidence that the player and/or his representative wishes to put forward in his own defence. This can include a written report, a verbal submission, any expert evidence and video evidence.

• any written or video evidence that the player's home Board wishes to be considered on behalf of its player.

The player and/or his representative shall be entitled to question any member of the Bowling Review Group and/or any person called to give evidence in the course of the hearing on any issue relevant to the hearing. The members of the Bowling Review group shall be entitled to question the player and/or any person called to give evidence on the player's behalf.

After all the evidence and argument has been presented, the player and his representative will be asked to leave the hearing.

The Bowling Review Group will then reach a decision by taking a formal vote.

If the Bowling Review Group shall decide by simple majority vote that the player is guilty of breaching Law 24.2 he shall be banned from bowling in international cricket for a period of 12 months from the date of the finding, or until such time as the player has rectified his action to the satisfaction of the Bowling Review Group.

The ICC will communicate the decision of the Bowling Review Group in writing to the player?s home Board immediately after the hearing.

Review of Bowling Action
The player will be permitted, under supervision of the home Board, to play in domestic cricket and the home Board shall be required to assist the player to rectify the problem with his bowling action.

At any time, but not less than 90 days after the finding or any subsequent finding under this clause, should the home Board be satisfied that the player has rectified the problem with his action, the home Board shall submit a written report together with any further video evidence that may be appropriate advising the ICC to this effect.

The Bowling Review Group, consisting as far as reasonably possible of the same members as the group which attended the original hearing, shall re-convene (either in person or, in the discretion of the chairman, by way of video and/or telephone conference) as soon as reasonably possible from the date of receipt of a report to reassess the action of the player.

The Bowling Review Group shall consider the report submitted and any accompanying video evidence and any other evidence the player and/or his representative wishes to put forward.

If the Bowling Review Group is satisfied that the player has rectified his action the player shall immediately be eligible to play international cricket. If not the ban shall remain in place.

The Bowling Review Group shall, at all times and in particular when reaching any decision as to legality of the player's bowling action, be obliged to have due regard to the levels of tolerance detailed in the ICC Standard Analysis Protocols.

* EDITOR'S NOTE: The foregoing is a press release issued on Monday by the ICC. We publish it in its entirely for informational purposes.