Lawson bowling action still illegal

Despite what is being reported elsewhere, the legality of Jermaine Lawson’s bowling action is still in violation of the ICC’s level of tolerance for elbow straightening. The ICC’s terms of reference for reviewing illegal bowling actions sets the level of tolerance at 10 degrees (the amount of elbow strengthening prior to release) but Lawson’s last biomechanics test came back at 14 degrees, a senior WICB official told CaribbeanCricket.com. “He is reported at 14 degrees from the last biomechanics and high-speed camera tests in Australia, so he still has some work to do,” the official said. Because the 14 degrees cannot be detected with the naked eye, the WICB (with backing from Australia) is pushing for the ICC to increase the allowance to 15 degrees. “The ICC themselves have said that 90 percent of the pace bowlers are in violation if you use a high speed camera so that’s something we have to argue at the boardroom level.”

The WICB can give Lawson the go-ahead to return to competitive cricket immediately but there’s heavy risk with that move, the official explained. If Lawson’s action degenerates and throwing becomes visible to the naked eye, an umpire can report him again and that would mean the ICC would take over the bowling review process. He said the WICB were being very careful and patient to make sure that when Lawson makes his return, there will be no worry that he will be reported again. Another hiccup for Lawson is what appears to be a new back injury, separate from the pain in the left lower back that he has struggled with the last few months.

After bowling a few overs during Jamaica’s Carib Beer Series regional tournament  preparations, Lawson complained of severe pain in the lower right back region and a new MRI has been done without any indication of a major problem. To be on the safe side, the WICB have arranged for Lawson to visit a prominent neurosurgeon to determine if there’s nerve damage near the area of the spine. “We believe the new pain comes from the remedial work and not associated with a back injury but we want to make sure.  Jermaine has to unlearn and relearn a lot of things and he’s using muscles that weren’t being used before,” the official said.