Chennai and Brisbane approved as testing centres

The ICC has accredited centres in Brisbane and Chennai as testing venues for suspected illegal bowling actions. Cricket Australia's National Cricket Centre in Brisbane and the Sri Ramachandra University in Chennai join Cardiff Metropolitan University as testing facilities for bowlers reported in international cricket. The accreditation comes in a year when the ICC have becoming increasingly vigilant over bowling actions.

An ICC release said that the two centres were assessed for several factors including the availability of "a motion analysis system with a minimum of 12 high speed cameras capable of producing three-dimensional data", qualified personnel to operate the system and enough indoor space for tests to be conducted.

"We are pleased to announce the accreditation of these two new testing centres, which will help us better manage the issue of illegal bowling actions in cricket," Geoff Allardice, the ICC's general manager - cricket, said. "The accreditation of these facilities will make testing more accessible for elite cricketers, while also providing a more consistent assessment of bowlers' actions through the common use of the ICC protocols, equipment and processes."

The accredited centres are where bowlers will head to for an independent analysis after they have been reported in international cricket. Though the ICC announced that Brisbane facility was accredited only today, the highest-profile bowler to be reported this year, Pakistan offspinner Saeed Ajmal, had been sent to Brisbane for testing in August.