Gilchrist charged over Murali comments

Melbourne, May 27: Australian Test vice-captain Adam Gilchrist was charged on Monday under the Australian Cricket Board's code of player conduct after he called Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan a chucker.

ACB chief executive officer James Sutherland said in a statement Gilchrist had been charged with making a public comment detrimental to the interests of cricket.

Speaking at a luncheon hosted by the Carlton Football (Australian Rules) Club here Sunday, Gilchrist answered "Yes" when asked if Muralitharan threw the ball when bowling.

"Technically, if you read the rules, I think he's probably not quite within them," Gilchrist said. 

"It's amazing when you do go to the subcontinent and see so many young bowlers in the nets and they all run in and they've all got similar actions," he said.

"They obviously just do not worry about it (over there).

"If something like that, a junior has an action like that out here (in Australia) it's corrected as quickly as possible."

The ACB had yet to determine a time and venue for Gilchrist to answer the charge.

Sutherland said he had spoken with Gilchrist Monday about his comments.

"After reading the statements attributed to Adam, I rang him and asked him to provide me with more details about the accuracy of the comments and how they came to be in the public domain," he said.

"After considering Adam's explanation, I have issued a charge under the ACB code of behaviour.

"An ACB commissioner will determine whether Adam's comments are in breach of the code."

The players' code of behaviour forbids players and officials from making public comment which is deemed detrimental to the interests of the game or to a tour or series of matches in which they could be involved.

Sutherland said the ACB did not support the wicketkeeper-batsman's remarks.

"Muttiah Muralitharan's action has been cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after an exhaustive review," he said.

"The ICC has a rigid and comprehensive process in place to continually assess the legality of bowling actions and the ACB supports this process."

Muralitharan, 30, has come under the watchful eye of the ICC several times but is clear to play international cricket.

Sidelined recently with a dislocation and torn ligaments in his left shoulder, he is hoping to play in the second Test against England starting at Edgbaston on Thursday.

He had been having treatment in Australia before flying to England a week ago.

Muralitharan has taken 412 wickets in 73 Tests at an average of 23.38. He has taken five wickets in an innings 33 times and has had 10-wicket hauls in a match ten times.

Muralitharan said during his recent Australian visit he was aiming for 600 Test wickets, but did not believe his career would last long enough to take 1,000 scalps.

He recently became the youngest player ever to reach 400 Test wickets.