Willerton’s clear run
PART OF THE VICTORIAN COUNTRY CRICKET LEAGUE SUSPECT BOWLING ACTION POLICY
ENGLISH speedster Alex Willerton is free to spearhead East Belmont’s tilt at another GCA1 premiership, even if umpires continue to raise concerns over a potentially suspect action.
Umpires have now noted the fast bowler’s action in six Geelong Cricket Association games, including the most recent two-day clash against Grovedale.
But the GCA has confirmed the 21-year-old is about to start an eight-week “intervention period”, where he works on his action and continues bowling in games.
Willerton has received three official “mentions” but is exempt from accumulating any more during the intervention period.
With eight weekends left in the season, the intervention period means he can keep bowling in games for the rest of this season, including the grand final should East Belmont make it.
The Lions are 15 points clear atop the ladder and wellplaced to defend the title they won last year.
After four days of uncer- If there is a third mention* (same process — umpire(s) make a separate report to association secretary). The VCCL Region Secretary contacts the club and requests that video footage be taken and forwarded to their Regional Cricket Manager, who will then forward and liaise with the Game Development Pace Group to provide remedial action advice. The cost to the club will be $80 for the video review and report production. The bowler/club is provided with a video analysis and a report. The Regional Cricket Manager will consult with the bowler on areas to rectify any problems with the bowling action. A copy of the report is also forwarded to the VCCL Region Secretary. There will be an 8 week “intervention period” following this analysis to allow remedial work to be undertaken. During tainty, cricket authorities met on Wednesday night and confirmed where Willerton was at in the process to remedy his bowling action.
Despite officially noting their concerns in rounds 6, 7, 8 and 9, the Geelong Addy T20 Cup final and Round 10, umpires have not no balled Willerton for throwing.
At three mentions, he is a level 2A player on the policy, requiring East Belmont to this intervention period, the player will be permitted to bowl in matches. Umpires will be advised of the player’s situation. (If there is any doubt* during this intervention period, then the umpire(s) will continue to make a separate report to association secretary). Should the bowler/Club decide not to cooperate or participate in this part of the procedure, the player will immediately be classified as Level 4, and will be suspended from bowling for 12 months. If there is a fourth mention* (same process — umpire(s) make a separate report to association secretary). The VCCL Region Secretary contacts the club and advises that the bowler is to undergo a Pace Bowling Technique analysis with High Performance coaching group. The cost to the club will be $120 for the video review and report production; the player will be required to travel to Melbourne to complete this assessment. record his bowling action for analysis by Cricket Victoria.
He was upgraded to level 2A after the Twenty20 grand final on January 20.
Footage of Willerton bowling was recently taken and sent to Cricket Victoria’s highperformance manager, Tim McCaskill, who has worked with Australian and Sri Lankan fast bowlers.
It is understood footage was professionally recorded at The bowler/club is provided with a video analysis and a report. At the analysis session, a High Performance Pace Coach will consult with the bowler on areas to rectify any problems with the bowling action. There will be an additional 8 week “intervention period” following this analysis to allow remedial work to be undertaken. During this intervention period, the player will be permitted.to bowl in matches. Umpires will be advised of the player’s situation. (If there is any doubt* during this intervention period, then the umpire(s) will continue to make a separate report to association secretary). Should the bowler/club decide not to cooperate or participate in this part of the procedure, the player will immediately be classified as Level 4, and will be suspended from bowling for 12 months. *This entire process does not preclude any umpire from calling a bowler for throwing, at any time, if the umpire is in no doubt. training from multiple angles and not in the match against Grovedale.
The eight-week intervention period will start when Cricket Victoria sends video analysis and a report back to East Belmont and the GCA.
East Belmont and the GCA are expecting to receive the video analysis and report within the next week, at which time the eight-week intervention period will start.
But after Willerton was again noted by umpires last round against Grovedale, GCA management was left scrambling for the rule book.
Uncertainty reigned as to whether he could continue to accumulate “mentions” during this period, before Cricket Victoria clarified his exemption at a GCA meeting on Wednesday night.
Even still, the next step in the process — moving to level 2B after receiving a fourth official mention — also involves another eight-week intervention period with a higher-level video analysis, where players can still bowl in games.
Players are suspended from VCCL matches at five mentions and then community cricket at six.
“We’ll follow every single rule and do it the whole way — all the way through those levels we’ll be out in front of it and doing everything we need to do,” East Belmont coach Chris Williams said.
“We’re open to process to make sure it’s the best for Alex’s wellbeing and also cricketing future for when he returns to England.”