Reports | Ambati Rayudu refuses to get bowling action tested; suspended by ICC

It was during India’s first ODI against Australia when Rayudu was pulled up for suspected bowling action. The part-time offspinner was found bowling a revamped version of Muttiah Muralitharan as far as his approach to the crease and delivery side was concerned. 

It was later communicated by ICC that he was having an illegal bowling action, where a player is "throwing rather than bowling the ball." As per the rules, it happens when the elbow extends by more than 15 degrees between the arm reaching the horizontal and the ball being released. The match officials generally use naked eye to take a call on it before submitting a report.

However, Rayudu, who is increasingly looking like the solution to India’s No.4 problem ahead of the ICC 2019 World Cup, had reportedly decided against testing his action in the stipulated 14-day time. Consequently, the ICC has suspended him for the period until he would be getting it tested to prove to have a legal bowling action. This ruling, however, wouldn’t stop Rayudu from bowling in domestic competitions in India.

While it might seem harmless, it could put the national team in a tricky spot as none of their top six would be contributing with the ball. The likes of Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh have previously been extremely handy and going with the side not picking up Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal together has also become a norm.