A man on a mission

ICC and Sri Lanka Cricket officials breathed a sigh of relief on Friday when a previously defiant Muttiah Muralitharan shelved his doosra on the first day's play of the second Test. However, hopes that the chucking controversy sparked by his doosra will now simmer down are premature as an angry Muralitharan contemplates his next step.

During the previous chucking controversies, in Australia in 1995/96 and 1998/99, Muralitharan was allowed to take a backseat as Arjuna Ranatunga, a warrior-like captain who relished his tussles with administrators, launched onto the offensive on his behalf with support from Sri Lanka Cricket. But this time it's Muralitharan beating the battle drum.

The ICC's media statement earlier in the week that endorsed Sri Lanka Cricket's decision to advise Muralitharan to ditch his doosra, at least until the completion of further research, raised the stakes in the controversy and only eleventh hour diplomacy prevented Muralitharan from pulling out of the match.

Muralitharan was furious with Sri Lanka Cricket for not taking a stronger stance with the ICC and pressing home the conclusion of the University of Western Australia report that he be allowed to continue bowling the doosra until the completion of further research into the biomechanics of spin bowling.

Muralitharan has now accepted that Sri Lanka Cricket, which agreed along with the other member boards to the introduction of the current threshold levels in September 2003, cannot stop his doosra being blackballed and he is therefore contemplating fighting for his right to bowl the doosra without their direct support.

Some commentators have questioned his state of mind after a series of defiant comments to the media. There has even been the suggestion that Muralitharan, an emotional and passionate character that has been so obviously upset by the insinuation of cheating, was being pushed to breaking point by the latest controversy.

But Muralitharan is far from a broken man. In fact, he's probably stronger than ever before, emboldened not weakened by the events of the recent weeks, a fact exemplified by his cheeky antics on Sunday night when the arrival of Dion Ebrahim - who had branded him a chucker on Friday night - prompted him to switch to legspin for the duration of the day.

But Muralitharan has reached a breaking limit of sorts: he's fed up of sitting idly by copping flak from his critics. He has decided that the time has come for greater proactive action to prove that his bowling action, while unusual and suspicious to the naked eye, is fair according to the latest biomechanical evidence and should be deemed legal.

Muralitharan apparently has two major gripes. Firstly, he believes the current system to be faulty with the currently permissible levels of tolerance at odds with the latest scientific research. Secondly, he feels that current tolerance levels are being applied in a discriminatory manner and that he's being treated unfairly.

Sri Lanka Cricket, confident that the scientific case for change is strong, has advised that he bide his time, be patient and wait until the completion of the ICC's review of the tolerance levels which will follow research during the ICC Champions Trophy. But Muralitharan appears reluctant to wait until the end of the year for his doosra to be finally given the green light.

The constant chitter-chatter about his action, the never-ending discussion on TV before each match, negative comments by players and even John Howard, Australia's prime minister, has become a source of deep frustration, forcing him to consider a legal fight to clear his name. A team of top lawyers from Sri Lanka have already pledged their support.

A legal battle would be messy, and perhaps pointless considering that the thresholds are anyway to be reviewed in a few months time. Moreover, such a confrontation is also sure to draw criticism from many quarters. But Muralitharan's character and mood is such that he cannot just sit back submissively and wave the white flag.

Legal support has also now been promised by Mahindra Rajapakse, Sri Lanka's newly appointed prime minister in a cabinet that also includes Ranatunga, who jumped to Muralitharan's defence at the weekend after Howard's comments last week - a move that will no doubt earn him valuable future brownie points amongst a volatile electorate.

It was the possibility of legal action over its chucking policy that originally led to the introduction of tolerance thresholds, an issue first discussed during the ICC's Cricket Committee meeting at Cape Town in 2002, as research showed that the vast majority of bowlers flex their arms and that the throwing law was therefore unenforceable.

Muralitharan, if he does take legal action, would argue that the current thresholds are equally enforceable and that there is sufficient evidence available now to immediately adjust the ICC's playing conditions rather than wait for the completion of research during the ICC Champions Trophy.

Muralitharan's participation in the forthcoming tour to Australia in June-July is now considered extremely unlikely after Howard's recent comments. There is even the possibility that he may consider opting out South Africa's tour in August and the ICC Champions in protest.

Even if Muralitharan does play international cricket in the coming months - the pressure for him to participate will be huge - he has privately vowed to friends that he will bowl the doosra, even if he risks being reported for a second time and possibly banned for up to 12 months.

When Muralitharan returns to Sri Lanka next week he will be greeted by thousands of cheering, flag-waving supporters in a long procession from the airport in the suburbs into the heart of Colombo. Another public celebration is being planned in his hometown and the invitations for felicitations could keep him occupied for months.

But, for Muralitharan, the world record has long since been forgotten. His mind is now totally focused on proving his right to bowl the doosra and protecting his reputation. His arrival home will mark the start of a personal crusade. Muralitharan, more fired up and fiercely determined than ever before, is a man on a mission.