What is Chucking? Why is it Illegal in Cricket?

Cricket arguably is one of the most followed sports in the world. The game is among the richest sports in the world and has also seen some of the big names sporting jerseys for their respective nations.

Not only at the international stage, cricket has expanded in such a way that there are different leagues of different nations along with the domestic circuit. However, the sport is strict as well, and it abides by certain laws and rules, which ensure that fair play is maintained.

Several cricketers have been there who have performed illegal things and have been banned or suspended. There are some illegal things in the game as well, and one among them is Chucking, which has been widely discussed in the news ever since the game gained success.

What is Chucking in Cricket?

The 'Chucking' term in cricket is related to the bowlers and is referred to as a throwing ball. It happens only when a bowler bends his arm while delivering the ball. This isn't allowed in cricket, and in terms of the International Cricket Council (ICC) language, it is called bending the arm.

The ICC recently released the official statement on the extent of arm flexion. According to the rule, the bowler is allowed to flex the elbow to a maximum of 15 degrees. Despite this, some bowlers still practice this and as a result, face the consequences.

If the bowler is accused of chucking by the umpire, then it is immediately called a no-ball. Moreover, the bowler is summoned for a suspected throwing motion and then he is asked to change his bowling action. A bowler can either face a ban or can be suspended for a specified period of time.

Why is Chucking Illegal in Cricket?

With chucking in cricket being a trending topic, one of the common questions that is being asked is why chucking is illegal in cricket. The reason behind that has been the unfair advantage that a bowler gets.

This is because when a bowler delivers a ball while keeping his arm straight, he gets an advantage in terms of the pace and twists of the ball. The chucking favours spinners over fast bowlers as it allows them to generate more spin.

The chucking is identified by the umpire, who is experienced. Often, an official uses his naked eye to determine if a player has engaged in an illegal action like tossing. If chucking in bowling is caught, then the bowler is given one warning. After that, he is suspended and the umpire sends a complaint to the match referee after the match and notifies the ICC and cricket bodies of the illegal bowling action.

What if a Player is Suspended for Chucking?

If the player is suspended, he has to report to the ICC's testing facility. If he clears that test, he then has to adjust his bowling motion and pass another test. If he passes both tests, then he is allowed to return to cricket and play against professional players.

There are quite a few players who have been accused of chucking in International Cricket. Recently, South Africa's offspinner Prenelan Subrayen was reported for the suspect bowling action and was banned for the last two ODIs against Australia.

Shoaib Akhtar, one of the best Pakistani bowlers of all time, came under a lot of scrutiny when he was suspended for the illegal bowling action. One of the greatest bowlers, Muttiah Muralitharan, who is one of the greatest of all time, also features in the list. The other names are Harbhajan Singh, and the West Indies’ mystery spinner Sunil Narine.