Australian officials laugh off Sri Lankan complaint

SYDNEY – Australian cricket officials have dismissed suggestions from a top Sri Lankan official that Adam Gilchrist breached the sport’s ethics by batting with a squash ball in his glove during last month’s World Cup final.

Gilchrist destroyed Sri Lanka’s bowlers with a masterful 149 off 104 balls in the Barbados final to put Australia on course for a fourth World Cup title. The wicketkeeper-batsman partly credited his performance to having the squash ball in his glove, saying it helped remind him to keep his bottom hand from moving too far around the grip.But Sri Lankan cricket board secretary Kangadaran Mathivanan claims Gilchrist’s actions, while not illegal, were unethical and he wanted the International Cricket Council (ICC) to act.”We don’t think he did anything illegal but we question whether it was unethical or within the spirit of the game,” Mathivanan said.”We plan to raise the issue with the ICC in June so that there can be a discussion as to whether using an object inside the glove should be permitted or not.”Mathivanan was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald comparing Gilchrist’s use of the squash ball to Trevor Chappell’s infamous underarm delivery but Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan said the official’s sentiments were not shared by anyone else.”That is his personal opinion, the team doesn’t think that,” Muralitharan said.Australian officials laughed off the matter, with spokesman Peter Young describing the complaints as a beat-up.”It’s a storm in a teacup, or a batting glove,” Young told the Australian Associated Press.”It’s been suggested that if shoving a squash ball into your bottom glove makes you bat like Adam Gilchrist then perhaps the ICC should make it compulsory.”Australian batting coach Bob Meuleman said he was disappointed by Mathivanan’s comments.Nampa-ReutersThe wicketkeeper-batsman partly credited his performance to having the squash ball in his glove, saying it helped remind him to keep his bottom hand from moving too far around the grip.But Sri Lankan cricket board secretary Kangadaran Mathivanan claims Gilchrist’s actions, while not illegal, were unethical and he wanted the International Cricket Council (ICC) to act.”We don’t think he did anything illegal but we question whether it was unethical or within the spirit of the game,” Mathivanan said.”We plan to raise the issue with the ICC in June so that there can be a discussion as to whether using an object inside the glove should be permitted or not.”Mathivanan was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald comparing Gilchrist’s use of the squash ball to Trevor Chappell’s infamous underarm delivery but Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan said the official’s sentiments were not shared by anyone else.”That is his personal opinion, the team doesn’t think that,” Muralitharan said.Australian officials laughed off the matter, with spokesman Peter Young describing the complaints as a beat-up.”It’s a storm in a teacup, or a batting glove,” Young told the Australian Associated Press.”It’s been suggested that if shoving a squash ball into your bottom glove makes you bat like Adam Gilchrist then perhaps the ICC should make it compulsory.”Australian batting coach Bob Meuleman said he was disappointed by Mathivanan’s comments.Nampa-Reuters