Lawson making progress

KINGSTON: West Indies fast bowler Jermaine Lawson has returned home from Queensland, Australia, where he spent 19 days doing remedial work on his bowling action. Lawson is doing remedial work on his bowling after being reported for a suspect action in the Fourth Test against Australia at the Antigua Recreation Ground earlier this year. “At the end of the three weeks we spent in Australia, we believe we have made significant progress in respect of eliminating the biomechanical problems he had with his action,” Philip Service, territorial development officer for Jamaica, told CMC Sports. “The experts with whom we worked in Australia believe that in reducing the lateral flexion and the counter rotation in his action, it will contribute to the perceived illegality of his action. “In relation to him being able to meet the International Cricket Council’s bowling criteria, it was felt that he would improve in this respect.”

Service added that Lawson’s real progress would be tested on the field in a match situation following a three-week respite and some more rehabilitative work on his action. “We will take him through all of the things we covered in the earlier phases and, ultimately, throw him into active competition because that’s what the ICC requires,” he said. “During the remedial work, he certainly will not bowl at the same pace he does in a match atmosphere. That’s why it is important to test him in actual competition, where he will be running into bowl and get ‘psyched out’ and it’s under those conditions he will bowl at that pace.” Service revealed that Lawson had bowled in the nets at the Queensland state team and many of the players there believed he looked pretty good.

“We can make assessments from the naked eye or from the normal speed cameras we have at our disposal, but to really test legality, we will have to do the ICC test with high-speed cameras,” he said. “Right now, he looks pretty clean with the naked eye.” Service noted the young fast bowler was very clear about what he needs to do and is very focussed about getting his action ironed out. “In all the decisions we have taken, we have included Jermaine,” he said. “He is a very determined young man. He wants to make his return to international cricket. He understands it’s not going to be easy, but he is committed to working very hard.” Lawson has captured 29 wickets at 24.51 apiece in seven Tests and nine wickets at 24.11 in six limited-overs internationals.