Umpires report three players for suspect bowling actions

Umpires at the CricInfo Women's World Cup have today made an official report to the World Cup Technical Committee calling for an investigation of the bowling actions of three players.

The players implicated are seam bowlers Renu Margrate of India and Caroline Salomons of The Netherlands; and spin bowler Erin McDonald of New Zealand.

Margrate was reported by two international umpires, Australian Simon Taufel and New Zealand's Brent Bowden, who stood in India's match against England on Monday.

McDonald and Salomons were reported by New Zealand international umpire Steve Dunne and his colleague Peter Williams following the match between the two teams on Wednesday.

The umpires have advised that, in their view, the bowlers may contravene Law 24.3 of the 2000 Code of Cricket Law and have recommended further investigation by the respective team management.

Tournament Director, Tim Murdoch, said the umpires' reports had been received today by the World Cup Technical Committee and the three teams involved had been informed this morning.

"The Technical Committee has advised the India, Netherlands and New Zealand team coaches of the umpires' report. The Committee will also write to the respective Cricket Boards recommending the players concerned undergo video analysis of their action and are provided with specialist remedial coaching to ensure the action is lawful.

"The umpires have not `called' the bowlers for a no-ball during the match because they are not certain the action is illegal but clearly they believe there is a case to answer and have rightly recommended further investigation.

"It is possible that other players may also be implicated following future games, but the issue is entirely at the jurisdiction of the umpires."

Murdoch said the three players are able to continue to play in the World Cup.

"This is the first time in the history of the women's game that umpires have reported a possible contravention of the law, possibly because the women's game has not been as closely scrutinised or filmed in the past.

"The Technical Committee will recommend to the International Women's Cricket Council (IWCC) that the playing conditions for international women's cricket, including future world cups, are amended to incorporate a process which will deal with bowlers with illegal actions," Murdoch said.

Murdoch said the team management for India, The Netherlands and New Zealand had acknowledged the umpires' report and agreed to act, in conjunction with their respective Boards, to ensure the players involved receive appropriate coaching support.