* ICC umpires and/or the match referee will report a bowler considered to have a suspect bowling action at the end of a Test or One day International. Umpires will retain the right to ‘call’ a bowler during a game, at their discretion. A report will initially be based on observations reached with the naked eye. The use of slow motion match footage will only be used to reinforce this initial impression. * The bowler’s team manager and the ICC will be notified of the report within 24 hours.
* Within a further period of 24 hours, a public statement will be issued by the match referee, confirming the reporting.
* The bowler’s Board will be notified by the ICC and copies of the relevant match footage supplied.
* Within a period of 21 days, the bowler will be required to work with an independent member of the ICC’s Human Movement Specialist panel. This will include the filming of his action under laboratory conditions and using latest technology opto-reflective techniques.
* The Human Movement Specialist’s report will confirm if the bowler’s action exceeds the permitted 15 degrees of straightening, or if he has been cleared to continue playing.
* If the action is found to be legal, the bowler can immediately resume his career, although the clearance does not constitute any form of exemption against being reported in future
If the report finds that the bowler’s action exceeds 15 degrees of straightening, he will be immediately suspended from international cricket. There are then two options available to him:
* To carry out remedial action to rectify his action to meet the ICC standard, or
* To contest the decision within 14 days and seek a hearing of the ICC Bowling Review Group (BRG) to make a final decision
* A BRG hearing will be held within 21 days and the outcome will decide to either uphold the decision of the expert report and suspend the bowler, or alternatively overturn the decision and clear the player to resume his international career
The ICC Bowling Review Group will consist of the following:
* A member of the ICC Code of Conduct Commission, chairman
* A current ICC Match Referee
* A former international player
* A former international umpire
* A member of the ICC panel of Human Movement Specialists
* ICC General Manager – Cricket, as an ex-officio member
A second report within the space of two years proving an illegal action would see the bowler suspended from all international cricket for a minimum period of 12 months.
