SYDNEY - Australian cricket writers yesterday questioned the legality of West Indies fast bowler Jermaine Lawson after his record seven for 78 on the first day of the fifth and final Test in Antigua.
Under the headline 'ICC must confront Lawson bouncer', columnist Peter Roebuck wrote that "the raggedness of his action presented the game's authorities with a challenge they do not want, but simply cannot ignore."
The former Somerset captain, now resident in Australia, was especially concerned about Lawson's bouncer.
"Antigua's press box is unusually close to the action and conveniently located at long-off, from which position his action could be studied" he wrote. "Deterioration was evident whenever the bouncer was attempted."
He and other Australian writers at the Antigua Recreation Ground reported that ICC match referee Mike Procter, the former South African all-rounder, had asked for television footage of Lawson's action after the first Test but had not followed up on his request.
Procter said after the first day's play that International Cricket Council (ICC) umpires David Shepherd and Srinivasa Venkataragahavan had made no report on Lawson's action. As they are obliged to do under ICC regulations if they are not satisfied.
Both Roebuck and Trevor Marshallsea, writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, noted that the subject had only been raised after four Tests following Lawson's success.
"The pity is while Lawson has attracted suspicion throughout the series, the issue has only become a public controversy after his seven-wicket haul, no doubt raising allegations that Australians, who themselves have had Brett Lee go through a chucking scandal, are wont to deride an opponent's action only when he is succeeding against them," Marshallsea wrote.
"The timing of the issue, however, should be of little consequence compared with the crux of the matter - the bowler's action," he added.
Although no report had been made, Roebuck claimed that Lawson's "flaw has attracted the attention of those responsible for ensuring the game proceeds along the correct lines."
"Doubtless, it will seem that an Australian commentator is drawing attention to an opponent's action just as he is starting to take wickets," he noted.
He continued: "Such an objection is without merit. No one in their right mind wants to blight the career of a lively and entertaining fast bowler, but the sooner this matter is addressed, the better it will be for all concerned."
He suggested that Lawson be sent to "the appropriate coaches for remdial work."
"No one need get upset about this suggestion. Several bowlers, most of them spinners, have been dealt with in this way and most have returned with the problems ironed out," Roebuck commented.