When I first heard of the plan I thought it was a good idea. I still do, but I’ve struggled to comprehend some of the reaction over the last couple of days.
Murali, however controversial, will go down as one of the greatest spinners the world has ever seen. His bowling action, in some people’s eyes, prevents him from being the greatest ever. But that is an argument without an end point.
Contrary to the ever-growing belief, Australia’s spinners aren’t going to end up replicating the Sri Lankan tweakers action en masse after a week of tuition.
The 38-year-old isn’t going to walk into the Centre of Excellence and instantly change the action of a young kid to resemble his own, when it currently looks more like Jason Krejza.
Former Australian wicket-keeper Ian Healy told the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday that “If we can find someone who can bowl at 14.7 degrees [off a straight arm] with a flicky wrist, let’s do it”. While that is within the realms of possibility, it’s highly unlikely. It’s also not what the brief should be. The brief should involve instilling a deeper knowledge of spin bowling. Plans, patience and field placement should be high on the agenda.
His action has its merits. If you’ve ever tried to have a go at replicating the “murali” in the nets or on some backyard field of dreams, you’ll note you can spin the ball a mile (the cracks also help for those playing along in driveways). My guess is that junior coaches wouldn’t let it slide in a match or in the nets and so having a young spinner who bowls like Murali is doubtful.
What the veteran can bring to the table, however, is a keen eye and knowledge of the dip and turn required to fool a batsman.
If a few sessions can help turn the next average Australian spinner into a great Australian spinner, isn’t it worth it?
The lack of quality in the spin ranks is a terrible legacy for the governing body to have in the wake of the Shane Warne era.
It’s time to start turning things around in a serious way, because the process at the moment clearly isn’t working.
MC
Guest
No matter what you think of Murali's action, his knowledge of the game would be a massive insight for our young spin bowlers. As pointed out above. You don't take 800 Test wickets by fluke. Additionally he would impart great knowledge to our batsman on how to play and read spin - something our young batsmen could learn a lot from. Australia's batsman are often criticised for being weak players of spin. Facing and listening to Murali for a week couldn't be a bad thing!
damos_x
Guest
I thought the situation was more along the lines of the findings showed that many bowlers exceeded the angle allowed previously & thus it was prudent to amend the law rather than use technology to ban players otherwise deemed ok.
John
Guest
Good point Chris about our current spinners lacking either plan or control. I think this could also include our pace bowlers as well. Too much Twenty20 cricket? I guess if Murali can teach that to our bowlers then it would be a good idea to have him here. But why are the multitude of coaches we already have here unable to teach these skills?
Tony
Guest
Chris of Vic, Murali most definitely did have a flex in his elbow. The UWA report is here (scroll down), as well as a lot of commentary pointing out where the rubber stamp process and cherry picking of deliveries... sorry, testing is unsatisfactory.
Chris
Guest
I suspect Luke would be the first to admit that spinning the ball a mile is a hell of a lot easier when you are bowling very slowly. I can easily turn the ball a couple of feet when bowling at, say, 55kph. When I try bowling spin at professional speeds (say 70 to 90kph) it turns a hell of a lot less, if at all, and is a lot less acurrate. Anyone can spin the ball a mile (or at least a foot) if they bowl slow enough.
Chris of Vic
Roar Pro
I think it is a great idea that Murali is consulted, regardless of what you think of his action, you don't take 800 test wickets without using your brain. Shane Warne would never have taken as many wickets if he relied on spin alone, his ability to develop a plan for each batsman and then bowl to the plan is what got him the wickets, similarly so does Murali. Once the plan is in place both bowlers are able to control the flight and spin of the ball to deceive the batsman. That's where many of our current spinners are going wrong, they are missing either one , the other or both (plan and control). By the way, I think it was the University of WA's Exercise Physiology Dept. that proved that Murali's arm was bent throughout his entire action and never straightened (he is unable to straighten his arm in normal movement as well). Chucking is when you start with a bent arm and finish at full extension. The 15deg action (from memory) was brought in after analysis of many of the world's best bowlers found that they bent their arm up to 15 deg and straightened it during delivery. Most fast bowlers were in this category and Brett Lee was definitely one of them. Murali just got the ball rolling, so to speak..... :)
LK
Guest
I don't have a problem with it at all. When I checked the Tele the other day most of the reader comments were positive, which was surprising and encouraging. He got wickets through flight, variation, control etc, not just through his action. With spin technique in Australian cricket at a low, it would be more of a worry if we didn't approach him. Then again, maybe Cricket Australia should appoint Luke Doherty as spin coach. Using his Murali-like action in the driveway he "spins it a mile". He would have taken 800 test wickets easily.
Ken
Guest
Murali was a chucker and the rules were changed because the authorities were weak. That he has the wicket-taking record (and is likely to keep it for a long time) is a bit of an embarressment to the game. BUT.... there is no doubt the guy has a great cricketing brain and in all interviews I've ever seen he appears to be thoughtful, clever and polite. Nobody seems to have a bad word to say about him other than his action, plenty seem to say he's a good guy and a smart cricketer. So I don't really have a problem with this, he's not going to teach bowlers to 'bowl' with his action, he's going to teach them to be good spin bowlers.
sledgeross
Guest
Agree with Tony. Murali is a genetic freak who was able to impart spin on the ball by having a "flexible" elbow. I would suggest that he will not encounter any bowler in first class cricket in Australia with the same "defect". As such, how can he tutor young spinners when he never bowled with an orthodox action?
Atawhai Drive
Guest
As I said elsewhere, Cricket Australia has tried to keep chucking in check, but employing Murali as a coach would undo the good work.
Tony
Guest
The point is not that Murali has no knowledge to impart, or that we might learn how to better exploit the 15 degree rule, or that we will suddenly have a nation of chuckers. The point is that by employing Murali to coach at the Academy, Australian cricket is tacitly approving - or turning a blind eye, depending on your favourite pejorative - the past deeds of the main player in one of the greatest scams in the history of any sport. But if you don't mind that, it's all good.