Andy Roberts believes that spinner Sunil Narine should consider taking a hiatus

Former national and West Indies fast bowler Sir Andy Roberts believes that spinner Sunil Narine should consider taking a hiatus from international cricket.

Sir Andy, also a former West Indies selector, suggests that the Trinidadian should think about taking at least two years off to correct his illegal bowling action.

“If you are going to overcome pelting, you can’t do it in 15 days, you can’t do it in two months, you can’t do it in six months because you have been playing cricket for the greater part of your life.
Narine is about 29 or 30, so he must have been playing from since he was about 18 or 19 and using the same action,” he said.

“I would say if Narine wants to come back then he has to forget about First Class cricket for at least two or three years, because you have to repeat all of those deliveries so he can get accustomed to doing it.”

Narine was suspended from bowling in international cricket, with immediate effect, after his action was found to be illegal.

An independent assessment revealed that all variations of his deliveries exceeded the 15-degree limit. Narine’s action was reported earlier this month during the third ODI against Sri Lanka in Pallekele.

But, according to Sir Andy, the player’s future in international cricket depends largely on how seriously he approaches the recovery process.

“I think that once you have a suspect action, if you are prepared to do the hard work to straighten it, then you would succeed. But he is going to have to lose a number of his wicket-taking deliveries like the doosra and he has a problem with his off-break, so that’s a big problem,” he said.

Narine was playing against Sri Lanka after a gap of more than a year in international cricket, and finished with four wickets from three ODIs at an average of 18. He is currently the No 1 ranked bowler in the ICC rankings for ODIs and T20Is.

The Trinidadian is currently playing in the Bangladesh Premier League for Comilla Victorians, and this suspension means he won’t be allowed to bowl in the BPL either.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said that Narine would receive its full support as he works on correcting his action.

(Antigua Observer)

It appears to me that these umpires have a penchant for picking on Caribbean bowlers. Muralitheran, many feel, throw the ball for his entire career. His bowling action was unique, perhaps the strangest in the history of the game, but he was never called out, certainly never banned. Why? Is it because the Caribbean doesn't have large stadia and sell out matches? Is it because we have a feckless, helpless, hopeless board?The support that the Board proposes is hardly the kind that Narine needs at this point in his career. The Board needs to be aggressive, calling for an investigation of other bowlers from other countries who have suspect action. Surely of all the nations playing cricktet, Mr. Narine cannot be the only one who is not bowling properly.

Quote: Muralitheran, many feel, throw the ball for his entire career. His bowling action was unique, perhaps the strangest in the history of the game, but he was never called out, certainly never banned. Why?

Wrong!  Murali was called out..multiple times...remember umpire Darrell Hair?  He resigned over that!  The fact remains that Murali was not proven to be pelting. He arm was bent and remain bent throughout his deliver motion.  Thus, everytime Hair called him Murali was proven NOT GUILTY!  Murali has been the most test bowler in the history of cricket!  They even wrap his arm in hard cast and he still passed the test!

Can you say the same thing for Narine? 

A couple of videos showing Murali's delivery action in use with and without the hard cast that Goog Lee was referencing.

I'm not sure that Marine can do anything else OTHER than take a break from cricket altogether. While his actions is questionable at best, he'll now be a target for most of the umpires in the game, and as with most things in life, the closer your watched, the more people will find fault in what you do.

Taking a break, working on his action and letting the dust settle isn't the worst idea in the world.

[quote author=pwarbi link=topic=101669.msg667605#msg667605 date=1449404680]
I'm not sure that Marine can do anything else OTHER than take a break from cricket altogether. While his actions is questionable at best, he'll now be a target for most of the umpires in the game, and as with most things in life, the closer your watched, the more people will find fault in what you do.

Taking a break, working on his action and letting the dust settle isn't the worst idea in the world.
[/quote]
He doesn't have any option but to take a break as he can not bowl until he has been retested and cleared by the ICC. The only potential cricket he could play is the CPL if the WICB provided him with a special exemption.

It will be interesting to see how effective Narine will be with a modified action. Saeed Ajmal remodelled his action and hasn't been the same since.

[quote author=Goog Lee link=topic=101669.msg667510#msg667510 date=1449262056]
Wrong!  Murali was called out..multiple times...remember umpire Darrell Hair?  He resigned over that!  The fact remains that Murali was not proven to be pelting. He arm was bent and remain bent throughout his deliver motion.  Thus, everytime Hair called him Murali was proven NOT GUILTY!  Murali has been the most test bowler in the history of cricket!  They even wrap his arm in hard cast and he still passed the test!

[/quote]

Was about to make this point.

As I recall recall Murali never straightened his elbow hence he was "deemed not to be pelting".

Now if Narine could somehow NOT straighten his elbow he would be fine.