‘Substantial improvement but more work needed on clearly modified action’
Bio-mechanist Dr. Mark King’s report on Ajmal’s unofficial tests
LAHORE–November 15, 2014: After tests on Nov. 10 at Loughborough University, an ICC accredited facility for tests on bowlers with suspect actions, biomechanist Dr. Mark King has reported that ace off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has modified his “bowling action substantially”, and while “there is clearly a substantial improvement from the previous official test… it is likely that with additional work the bowler can bowl within the 15 degree limit”.
After working on remodeling his action for nearly a month and a half with Saqlain Mushtaq and other National Cricket Academy coaches, Ajmal was sent to Loughborough, England last week for unofficial testing at the newest of ICC’s accredited centre. Saeed was tested by Dr. King and his team at with 18 Camera Vicon MX13 System Cameras (250 Hz). The standard ICC Illegal Action Testing Protocol was used to assess the degree of elbow extension from the point of upper arm horizontal to ball release within the bowling action.
Dr. King’s report concluded: “The bowler has clearly modified his bowling action substantially.
There is clearly a substantial improvement from the previous official test where the average elbow extension was 40 degrees but the amount of elbow extension is still over the 15 degree limit, but it is likely that with additional work the bowler can bowl within the 15 degree limit”.
Following this report, it was decided to extend Ajmal’s stay in England by a week, to allow him to engage in further remedial work with Saqlain Mushtaq at Leicester.
Saeed Ajmal was reported for a suspect bowling action during the first Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Galle from the Aug. 6 to 10, 2014 The report was made by Bruce Oxenford and Ian Gould (on-field umpires), Richard Illingworth (third Umpire), and match referee Andy Pycroft.
Saeed has been working at the NCA, under supervision of Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Mohammad Akram and analysts since his official test in Brisbane concluded that that his average elbow extension was over 40 degrees.
