The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Throwing — an emotional and controversial part

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 16, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Throwing — an emotional and controversial part

Harbhajan Singh's return to the fray is welcome news and a reminder of the journey upon which sport takes its practitioners. Already in his brief career the young spinner has known triumph and misfortune, valour and villainy. Enormously to his credit the smile has never left his face, in public anyhow. Through mishap and merriment he has continued to trip the light fantastic.

Harbhajan has experienced as many twists of fortune as a cricketer twice his age. Along the way he has bowled his country to a famous victory on that heady afternoon in Eden Gardens. Naturally the match is remembered for the wondrous innings played by V.V.S. Laxman and the sight of the Hyderabadi batting an entire day alongside his resolute partner from Bangalore, Rahul Dravid. Only the most optimistic of supporters thought that India had the slightest chance of winning the match.

Then came the Sikh with his bounce and turn and deceptions, a combination that left the Australians floundering as more sweeps shots were played than Mrs. Mop essays on a Monday morning. Harbhajan took a hat-trick. It was his greatest hour and enough to turn the head of the best-raised child yet the spinner merely expressed delight that he had played his part in a thrilling victory. Teammates responded with a collection and a thousand pats on the back.

But it has not all been curd and samosa. Already his action had been called into question, a situation that had threatened to cut short a brilliant career. Nor was that all. After the excitement of Kolkata came the frustration of injuries that forced the young man to withdraw from a team that had become his family. Naturally Harbhajan was devastated. India missed his spirit as much as his bowling.

Harbhajan's contribution and especially his achievement in silencing the doubts about his action confirms the determination of a rising sportsman but is also a success for the game at large. Not so long ago a bowler whose action had come under scrutiny was forced out of the game. Nowadays reports are made and remedial measures are taken in an attempt to help the player to satisfy the inspectors. Harbhajan has been given the guidance that was needed and has been able to reclaim his place in the spotlight. Much the same applies to Jermaine Lawson whose action was reported a year ago.

Far from deserving the widespread condemnation that has been voiced, the new regulations on illegitimate actions are an improvement on the old days of public and permanent executions. Judgement has been clouded by the unsatisfactory way in which Muttiah Muralitharan's freakish style has been confronted. Murali has been hailed and hounded in about equal parts by a game that has never been able to make up its mind and is in any case hindered by political considerations. Complaints have been made, studies have been completed, opinions have been expressed and still the spinner is wheeling away, shorn only of his surprise delivery.

Obviously the entire procedure has been ridiculous. It has also been complicated and it does not invalidate the entire process. Indeed cricket has learnt from the botch it has made of Murali. Most particularly it has understood the need to take the sting out of the entire issue. For a hundred years throwing had been an emotional and controversial part of the game.

Umpires were reluctant to become involved because to call a man for throwing was to accuse him of cheating and to force him out of the game. Yet the breach of the rules might be technical and unintentional. Umpires are humans and professionals and like most sportsmen did not have the heart to be the hangman.

Accordingly dubious actions went unchecked till the situation deteriorated so far that authority felt obliged to intervene by encouraging umpires to apply the laws and assuring them of support. During these brief clean-up campaigns Test bowlers were condemned and then things returned to normal. Contrastingly,

Harbhajan has been treated with consideration and maturity. He has been able to review and reconstruct his action and to resume his challenge for a place in the Indian side.

Doubtless he will be kept under scrutiny yet the attention is more sympathetic than disconcerting.

Harbhajan and Lawson deserved better than whispers and accusations. Most especially they needed the chance to adjust their actions till they satisfied the examiners. This has been achieved. Throwing no longer provokes the combination of hysteria and cowardice of yesteryear.

The hopes of fine young bowlers have been restored. Far from deserving brickbats for its treatment of bowlers with curious actions, cricket authorities deserve the congratulations of those trying to balance the interests of the individual with the reputation of their game.

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