Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan believes that scientific research into the biomechanics of spin bowling will pave the way for his controversial doosra delivery being declared legal.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) have barred the doosra, which spins in the opposite direction to the world record wicket taker's stock off break, after tests carried out at the University of Western Australia showed that it did not conform to current guidelines.
"I am adamant in my belief that I operate within the laws of the game and that my action when delivering the doosra does not give me an unfair advantage," Muralitharan said in a personal statement released by Sri Lanka's cricket board on Friday.
"I am confident that the tests and research by the relevant authorities will conclusively prove that my action when delivering the doosra is legal," he added.
Muralitharan's doosra was reported as suspect by match referee Chris Broad during Sri Lanka's series against Australia in March.
Subsequent tests using high-speed cameras to generate a computer simulation that estimated the level of elbow-straightening showed Muralitharan's arm flexed by 14 degrees.
The straightening was reduced to 10.2 degrees after remedial action but that was still double the five-degree level of bending currently tolerated by the ICC.
Muralitharan was on Friday named in a 16-man squad to tour Australia this month. He had threatened to withdraw when Australian Prime Minister John Howard questioned his action.
"The period since Chris Broad's report has been a most traumatic time for me," said Muralitharan.
"I have been defamed, pilloried and severely criticized by the world's cricket media. "Even the prime minister of Australia, John Howard, has called me a chucker."
"My action is unorthodox," he said. "It is, however, wrong for people to label me as a "chucker" based solely on what they see with the naked eye.
"What such people perceive as a 'throw' is an 'optical illusion', a fact proven by the tests carried out on my bowling action over the years."
