West Indies’ disappointing tour of New Zealand became even more depressing yesterday.
Ronsford Beaton, the young promising fast bowler who made his international debut last Wednesday, has been reported for a suspect action.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that the 25-year-old’s action had come under scrutiny during the second One-Day International last Saturday.
In a report that was handed over to West Indies team management, match officials cited concerns over the legality of Beaton’s action.
As a result, his action will be scrutinised further under the ICC process relating to suspected illegal bowling actions reported in Tests, ODIs and Twenty20Is.
Beaton will be required to undergo testing within 14 days, and, during this period, he is permitted to continue bowling in international cricket until the results of the testing are known.
West Indies crashed to an embarrassing defeat by 204 runs in the match that Beaton was reported, with the rookie pacer taking one wicket for 60 runs from eight overs in an imposing New Zealand total of 325 for six.
Over the past few seasons, Beaton, who was born in Montserrat but lives in Guyana, has performed commendably in the Caribbean Premier League for Trinbago Knight Riders and Guyana Amazon Warriors.
He made his international debut last week in the first match of the current series between West Indies and New Zealand, and despite failing to take a wicket, bowled decently in nine overs that cost 42.
It is the third time in recent years that a West Indian has been reported for a suspect action.
Off-spinner Sunil Narine was suspended from bowling in international cricket because of an illegal action in 2015 when an independent assessment concluded that all variations of his deliveries exceeded the 15-degree limit. The Trinidadian was cleared to bowl again five months later after remodelling his action.
Batsman Marlon Samuels, who also bowls off-spin, was banned from bowling at the international level for one year in 2015 after his action was deemed to be illegal for the second time in two years. He was given the go-ahead to bowl again earlier this year.
Coincidentally, both Narine and Samuels withdrew from the West Indies limited-overs squad on the current tour for different reasons. A finger injury forced Samuels out, while Narine, who was only selected for the Twenty20 segment, was unavailable for personal reasons.
After losing the first two ODIs, West Indies will aim to salvage some pride in the final match tomorrow (6 p.m. today east Caribbean time).
The defeats for West Indies in the ODI series follow a 2-0 loss in the preceding Test series. (HG)
