Murali action will always create speculation: Warne
Greg Buckle
Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan's bowling action will continue to create controversy with cricket fans, Australia's Shane Warne said on Wednesday.
"The fact with Muralitharan, I think his action will always create speculation with people, just the Joe Public saying does he or doesn't he," Warne told reporters.
"The ICC (the International Cricket Council) have cleared him to say he can play international cricket, that should be good enough for the players.
"Is he legal, yes ... so you just get on with it."
Australia vice-captain Adam Gilchrist was reprimanded by the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) on Monday after suggesting Muralitharan's bowling action was suspect.
Warne, 32, is the second-leading wicket-taker in Test cricket history with 450 wickets in 101 matches, trailing retired West Indies pace bowler Courtney Walsh on 519.
Muralitharan, 30, with 412 from 73 Tests, is widely expected to overhaul both of them in the next few years.
The world's top-ranked bowler, Muralitharan has been called for throwing in Australia but the ICC have since cleared his action.
"I don't want to get involved in whether Gilly is right or wrong," Warne said.
"It's a matter between the ACB and Gilly and I'm sure they'll sort it out."
Warne was promoting next month's three-match one-day series between Australia and Pakistan, to be played in Melbourne (indoors) and Brisbane.
Australia's tour of Pakistan, scheduled for September and October, remains in doubt because of security fears.
Warne said he was concerned with events in Pakistan but happy that the ACB had already stated player safety was the priority.
"A lot of us have got families and that is one of the considerations obviously for us," he said.
"We've got full confidence in the board and I'm sure they'll use common sense, which they have done in the past.
"It's three or four months away, things can change. We'll just have to wait and see."
Morocco, Bangladesh and Dubai had been mentioned as possible neutral venues for the series.
Also read: Muralitharan's action illegal, says Gilchrist
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