Sri Lanka hit back over 'chucking' claim

David Lloyd - making his opinions known to the authorities

Sri Lanka have hit back over England coach David Lloyd's accusation that Sri Lanka's off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan's action is "unorthodox."

The president of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL), Thilanga Sumathipala, said: "We want the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) to take some action over this.

"We are disappointed Lloyd expressed his views through the public (media) instead of going through the proper channels.

"I told Tim Lamb (ECB Chief Executive) that we were disappointed Lloyd had not gone through the proper procedures.

"Lamb has told our team manager Ranjit Fernando that he is disappointed with Lloyd's remarks."

Muthiah Muralitharan's "unorthodox" action

Sumathipala said he had already had calls from Australia expressing concern that the controversy over Muralitharan's action had surfaced again.

Lloyd made pointed remarks about the off-spinner's bowling action which has previously come under serious scrutiny, but has also been cleared by the International Cricket Council.

"They have got an off-spinner who is unorthodox. If that is okay, we will do something about it." said Lloyd.

"He spins it; he's got an action different to other bowlers.

"I have my opinions which I will make known to the authorities, match referee, officials and the ICC. I'm not prepared to make any further comment."

On Boxing Day, 1995, Muralitharan was called for 'throwing' by umpire Darrell Hair in front of 55,000 people in the Melbourne Test against Australia.

Ross Emerson later pulled him up for the same offence during a one-day game in Brisbane when he resorted to leg breaks. Not surprisingly, he considered quitting the game.

But medical and scientific tests were carried out during an independent inquiry by the University of Western Australia, in which his action was filmed from six different angles at 1,000 frames per second.

An amazing wrist rotation makes Muralitharan so effective and that is the major reason why he is such a dangerous bowler.