London: Hospitalised Sri Lanka paceman Shaminda Eranga has been banned from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect because of an illegal action, the International Cricket Council announced yesterday.
The ICC’s statement came just hours after Eranga had been taken to a Dublin hospital to undergo tests on an elevated heartbeat after he fell ill during Sri Lanka’s win over Ireland in the second one-day international at Malahide on Saturday.
“The International Cricket Council today (Sunday) announced that an independent assessment has found the bowling action of Sri Lanka’s Shaminda Eranga to be illegal and, as such, the fast bowler has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect,” said a statement issued by the global governing body.
“The assessment revealed that all deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations,” the statement added of a test carried out at the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough, central England, an ICC accredited testing centre.
“Eranga’s international suspension will also be recognised and enforced by all National Cricket Federations for domestic cricket events played in their own jurisdiction, save that, with the consent of Sri Lanka Cricket, Eranga may be able to play in domestic cricket events played in Sri Lanka under the auspices of Sri Lanka Cricket.”
Eranga, who turns 30 on Thursday, will be able to return to international cricket if he passes a fresh test after modifying his bowling action. He had his action reported after the second Test against England at Chester-le-Street last month.
Eranga opened Sri Lanka’s bowling in the first innings of that match, taking none for 100 in 27 overs during England’s 498 for nine declared. The right-armer then bowled just one over in England’s second innings as they chased down a target of 79 for victory.
Under ICC regulations, Eranga was allowed to continue playing until the results of his test were known and he featured in the drawn third Test at Lord’s, a result that saw England to an overall 2-0 series win, where he took one for 94 and three for 58.
Saturday saw Eranga, who has now appeared in 19 Tests and the same number of ODIs, come out to face the final ball of Sri Lanka’s innings at Malahide but he did not bowl and instead went to hospital. “Eranga had an elevated heartbeat prior to the innings commencing and was taken to hospital for tests,” Sri Lanka team manager Charith Senanayake said. ”He’s doing good but in hospital till Monday to complete all tests.”
The ICC’s ban means Eranga will take no part in the upcoming five-match one-day international series against England. Eranga is the latest Sri Lanka pace bowler to be ruled out of the tour of Britain and Ireland.
Dhammika Prasad was sidelined with a shoulder injury before the Test series against England and Dushmantha Chameera then had to return home with a stress fracture of the back.
Bowlers are meant to keep their arms as straight as possible in delivery so that the ball is ‘bowled’ rather than thrown towards the batsman.
The ICC define an illegal bowling action as one where the bowler’s “elbow extension” exceeds 15 degrees while he is in his delivery stride.