Chennai, Brisbane will be testing centers for suspected illegal bowling actions: ICC

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday declared that National Cricket Centre in Brisbane and Sri Ramachandra University in Chennai will be the testing centers for suspected illegal bowling actions.

The two centers join Cardiff Metropolitan University as testing facilities for players with suspected illegal bowling actions in international cricket.

ICC General Manager Geoff Allardice said, "We are pleased to announce the accreditation of these two new testing centers, which will help us better manage the issue of illegal bowling actions in cricket.

"The accreditation of these facilities will make testing more accessible for elite cricketers, while also providing a more consistent assessment of bowlers' actions through the common use of the ICC protocols, equipment and processes," Allardice added.

He further said, "The facilities also allow for bowlers in domestic competitions and in under-age squads to be tested against the ICC standard before they represent their country."

The two facilities were assessed against a range of criteria including having an indoor area large enough to allow a player to bowl off his or her normal full run-up, a motion analysis system with a minimum of 12 high speed cameras capable of producing three-dimensional data, suitably qualified personnel experienced in using such systems and implementing the ICC testing protocol.

The accreditation of the National Cricket Centre and the Sri Ramachandra University is part of an ICC effort to tackle the issue of illegal bowling actions.

With several other countries showing interest in hosting testing centers to help them assess bowlers in their domestic competitions, the ICC expects to assess and accredit a select range of additional facilities over the coming years.

Earlier on Tuesday, Kolkata Knight Rider's player Sunil Narine was reported for a suspected illegal bowling action during a Champions League Twenty20 game. Narine is the fourth bowler to be reported for a suspected illegal bowling action during Champions League Twenty20 2014.