LAWSON... likely to miss Red Stripe Bowl

EXPERTS say the remaining kink in Jermaine Lawson's much-improved bowling action cannot be seen by the naked eye.

But following an assessment in Kingston using high-speed cameras on July 31, British biomechanics expert, Dr Paul Hurrion, and members of the West Indies Cricket Board's (WICB) bowling review committee, say the 21 year-old fastbowler should do more to correct the glitch.

The latest development means that Lawson, who was reported by International Cricket Council (ICC) officials for a suspect action (throwing) in May, is likely to miss the Red Stripe Bowl limited overs tournament in October.

This, as the young pacer -- whose deliveries have been consistently clocked at in excess of 90 miles an hour -- battles to get ready for West Indies tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa in November, December and January.

A release from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) yesterday quoted Dr Michael Seepersad, who has supervised the remedial work on Lawson, as saying: "Dr Hurrion concluded that though there has been substantial improvement to Jermaine's action between the time he was reported and the assessment, there is still some work to be completed to satisfy Law 24 of the sport ..."

"The WICB's Bowling Review Committee, comprising Bryan Davis (chairman), Clyde Butts, David Holford, Dr Terry Ali and Colin Croft (by invitation), met last Friday in Port of Spain and approved Dr Hurrion's report. They too, recommended the rehabilitative work to continue."

The reports from Hurrion and the WICB's bowling committee have been forwarded to the ICC.

Cricket's Law 24 stipulates that "a ball is fairly delivered in respect of the arm if, once the bowler's arm has reached the level of the shoulder in the delivery swing, the elbow joint is not straightened partially or completely from that point until the ball has left the hand".

Lawson ran into trouble when ICC match officials formally reported him for a suspect bowling action (throwing) during the fourth and final Cable & Wireless Test between West Indies and Australia at the Antigua Recreation Ground in St John's. Lawson grabbed seven wickets in the first innings of that game as the West Indies stormed to a famous, record-breaking victory.

In the WICB release yesterday and a follow-up telephone interview with the Observer, Seepersad -- who is currently in Guyana for the under-19 youth tournament -- insisted Lawson's bowling action had improved significantly since May. He argued that but for the fact that he was already under scrutiny, Lawson's action would not now be questioned.

Seepersaud noted in the release that high-speed film (250 pictures per second) had been used in the bowling analysis and allowed the behaviour of Lawson's bowling arm to be viewed in slow motion and finite detail throughout delivery.

"Five times as many images are available with this film speed than with conventional video and 15 times when compared to the naked eye, so we are seeing things that we would not normally see," he said.

And he later told the Observer that: "As it stands now, Jermaine's action looks clean to the naked eye. I believe that if Jermaine was playing now and let's say he had never been reported for a suspect action, nobody would raise an eyebrow.

"However, the fact is that he is under scrutiny. Under the ICC rules we had to use high-speed cameras and those cameras suggest he has a problem that should be corrected."

A major concern, said Seepersad, was "some lateral flexion that we perceive at delivery".

He stressed that remedial work would concentrate not only on the legality of the bowler's action but on reducing the risk of back injury. Lawson has a history of back pains and broke down with back trouble in the very same Test match in which his action was questioned by ICC officials.

"If we can make him more biomechanically efficient, he will be able to retain his pace and ensure the safety of his action," said Seepersad.

"Obviously, Jermaine and everyone who has been working with him over the last few months were hoping for a more favourable report, but we are encouraged with the progress made so far. This is a long process and requires patience from all and discipline and commitment from Jermaine," he added.

Having said all that, Seepersad also told the Observer he was in full agreement with legendary West Indies fastbowler of the 1970s and '80s, Michael Holding, that several top bowlers in world cricket had "questionable" actions.

"But," he said, "that is not our concern right now. Our job is to do all we can to get Jermaine to iron out whatever problems there may be."

Seepersad paid tribute to Phillip Service and other Jamaican coaches for the "fine work they have done with Jermaine over recent months. They are on track and we expect them to continue in the same vein," he said.

Service yesterday told the Observer that while he was "disappointed" that Lawson's action had not been cleared, he was very encouraged at the news of significant improvement.

Seepersad said South African expert, Dr Richard Stretch, who will visit the Caribbean soon to work with regional coaches, was likely to have "a look at Lawson".

Also, the young pacer would probably visit Australia to "work" with experts who have also assisted others whose actions have been questioned, including Pakistan's Shaoib Akhtar and Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan.

Seepersad confirmed that Lawson, who was scheduled to arrive in Kingston yesterday from a five-day players' retreat in Port of Spain, would probably miss the Red Stripe Bowl.

"Obviously I can't say for sure but if it were my decision I would say that he should be left out of the Red Stripe Bowl while he does the rehabilitation work and gets ready for Zimbabwe and South Africa. And I believe that's the recommendation that will be made," he said.

A source close to the Jamaica selection panel said last night that an informal request had already been made for Lawson to be excluded from the Jamaica team for the limited-overs tournament. The Jamaica selectors are expected to name a Red Stripe Bowl training squad later this week.

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