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'Not cool': Contentious 'low tactic' divides cricket world

andrew reid
·4-min read
Pictured here, the unorthodox Riyan Parag bowling action being debated by cricket fans.
Riyan Parag's action has been described as borderline illegal by some cricket viewers. Pic: IPL

Teenage spinner Riyan Parag's unorthodox bowling action has been thrust into the spotlight after his side's loss to Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League.

The Rajasthan Royals tweaker has been accused of stooping to a "low tactic" while trying to get out Punjab batsman Chris Gayle during the match.

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Parag turned heads when he opted for a peculiar side-arm action that seemed to toe the line between what is classified legal.

Commentators were left taking a microscope to the allrounder's technique that saw his bowling arm come dangerously close at times to dropping below the perpendicular, before releasing the ball.

One ball to Gayle was particularly suspect, with Parag removing the West Indies great for 40 runs just a couple of deliveries later.

Aussie great Michael Slater said the spinner had "gotten away with it" after completing his only over, after which point the umpires came over to chat to him.

Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle argued that Parag was desperately close to bowling an outlawed underarm delivery, while the iconic The iconic Marylebone Cricket Club also labelled the action "borderline" legal.

While some likened the action to iconic side-arm bowler Kedar Jadhav, many cricket fans were less than happy about the teenager's contentious action.

Kings get home in a thriller

Parag had an eventual match after hitting 25 runs off 11 balls in a successful chase for his Punjab side.

Sanju Samson's blistering century for the Royals was not enough to prevent the Punjab Kings from scoring a four-run victory.

Samson, who was named captain before the start of the season, struck 119 off just 63 balls but was dismissed off the final delivery of the innings with his side five runs short of the target.

"I don't have words. It was very close ... I don't think I could have done anything more," Samson said after the match at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.

"I timed it well, but unfortunately couldn't clear the man in the deep.

"It's all part of the game. We thought the wicket was getting better and we could chase the target down. Despite the loss, I think the team played really well."

Seen here, Royals captain Sanju Samson at the batting crease for his side in the IPL.
Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson sent teammate Chris Morris back for the final ball in a hotly debated move. Picture: IPL

Earlier, Punjab posted a mammoth 221-6 thanks to quick-fire half-centuries from captain KL Rahul (91) and all-rounder Deepak Hooda (64).

Rajasthan's chase got off to a poor start, losing England all-rounder Ben Stokes and Manan Vohra early, before Samson turned the game on its head after being dropped on 12.

He struck 12 boundaries and seven sixes to register the first century of this season's IPL.

But needing five off the final two deliveries, Samson turned down a single off the penultimate ball before holing out to deep extra cover off the bowling of Arshdeep Singh as Rajasthan fell agonisingly short.

with AAP

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