Each sports is defined by a predefined set of rules and regulations that govern the game. And cricket is no different. The game of cricket too has its own rule book whose violation may often result in the team earning demerit points and may even lead to suspension of the players.
One such violation is popularly known as chucking.
Chucking, that is most commonly known as throwing the ball. It happens when a bowler straightens his arm precisely his elbow while delivering the ball beyond the maximum permissible limit.
The ICC has recently prescribed the maximum limit of flexing the elbow while delivering the ball to 15 degrees. The 15 degree angle is determined keeping the natural flexing of the delivery in mind. It is measured or assessed when the bowler brings his bowling arm over the shoulder before releasing the ball.
Chucking is more prevalent in spinners than the pacers and gives an added advantage to bowlers as they can generate more revolutions and spin along with pace.
If a bowler is found to be chucking a ball, the umpire gives the bowlers a first warning and is suspended immediately if found chucking again. The match referee then send the match report to ICC and the bowler is suspended from bowling unless his action is rectified and cleared by the ICC yet again.
Generally off spinners are charged more with the allegation of chucking.
Some or the big names found of chucking are:
1) Muttiah Muralidharan: Murlidharan is often known as the wizard of spin bowling and rightly so. The man who has taken 800 test wickets and over 1300 wickets in international cricket could have had more if he had not got his bowling action corrected not once or twice but thrice in his career and had to remodel his doosra to bowl that delivery again.
2) Sunil Narine: When Sunil Narine burst into international cricket he was touted as a magical bowler. But as his career progressed he was accused of checking thus had to remodel his action which reduced his efficiency in international cricket.
3) Saeed Ajmal: Saeed Ajmal was another off spinner whose career was cut short due to chucking. Ajmal who was once Pakistan's number 1 spinner was banned from bowling in international cricket in 2014. He tried for numerous comebacks but failed to create the impact he once had thus ending a late blooming career immaturely.
4) Mohammad Hafeez: After Saeed Ajmal, another bowler that faced the irk of chucking was his fellow compartriot Mohammad Hafeez. Hafeez was known for his brilliant off spin and justified his place in his side solely due to his off spin. But due to the chucking rules he had to undergo remodelling his bowling action.
5) Harbhajan Singh: The Turbunator of Indian Cricket is too no alien to the chucking allegations. Harbhajan Singh was first charged by former umpire Daryll Hair in chucking allegations in a Test match. Later on he was cleared by then match officials.
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