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Apart from Virat Kohli being one of the greatest cricketers of all time, the former Indian skipper has a long-standing relationship with controversy. Kohli has made it into controversial waters once again as former Australian cricket writer Ben Horne compared the action of Kohli with that of the recent saga of events related to the bowling action of Matthew Kuhnemann.
Ben Horne questioned leniency over Virat Kohli’s shoulder barge with Sam Konstas
Kohli has once again found himself in the spotlight of Australian media, more than a month after the conclusion of the Border-Gavaskar Test series. This time, his name resurfaced amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Kuhnemann’s bowling action, As this controversy unfolded, Australian cricket writer Ben Horne reignited discussions about Kohli’s past incident involving Sam Konstas. He accused the ICC of being hypocritical, recalling how Kohli had deliberately shoulder-barged Konstas during his debut Test but avoided a ban. The resurfacing of this debate has added another layer to the ongoing discussions surrounding the ICC’s consistency in enforcing disciplinary actions.
“Virat Kohli was hit with one of the softest sanctions of all time, yet match officials in Sri Lanka were happy to make an example out of a five-Test orthodox spinner over a marginal bowling action, they are completely different situations that don’t even belong in the same conversation other than the all too familiar running theme that the game’s governing body is sport’s biggest toothless tiger, until an easy target (Kuhnemann) presents itself,” Horne wrote on the Daily Telegraph.
During the Boxing Day Test between India and Australia, Kohli was involved in an incident with debutant Konstas. Kohli was fined 20% of his match fee and received one demerit point for a shoulder barge against Konstas. This action violated Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which prohibits inappropriate physical contact. Kohli admitted to the offense and accepted the sanction proposed by the match referee, avoiding a formal hearing.
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The Matthew Kuhnemann’s bowling action saga
After his success in the 2-match Test series against Sri Lanka, Kuhnemann’s bowling action was reported for ‘chucking’ the ball. Kuhnemann, who played a pivotal role in Australia’s historic 2-0 Test series whitewash against Sri Lanka by claiming 16 wickets at an average of 17.18, now faces scrutiny as his action must undergo testing to determine its legality. According to ICC regulations, a bowler’s elbow extension must not exceed 15 degrees before delivery, or it is deemed illegal.
Kuhnemann’s biomechanical testing will be conducted at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, despite the ICC typically preferring such assessments to be carried out overseas. Under the supervision of ICC experts, Kuhnemann will undergo rigorous evaluation, with motion markers placed on his arm and multiple cameras capturing his bowling action from various angles.
To ensure accuracy, he will be required to replicate the same bowling speed and ball revolutions as he did during the Test series in Sri Lanka, where he claimed 16 wickets at an impressive average of 17.18. The ICC will then analyze the data over the following weeks to determine whether his action complies with regulations or if his arm extends beyond the permissible 15-degree limit, which would classify it as illegal.
