Relief For South Africa: ICC Clears Spinner For ‘Suspect’ Bowling Action | Cricket News

Last Updated:September 07, 2025, 16:34 IST

ICC clears Prenelan Subrayen after his bowling action was reported in the ODI against Australia. An independent testing centre found his action legal.

Prenelan Subrayen only played the first game of the series. (AFP Photo)

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has cleared South African spinner Prenelan Subrayen over a report for an illegal bowling action after the Proteas’ ODI series opener against Australia on August 20. Subrayen made his ODI debut in the contest and took the wicket of Australia opener Travis Head, who was stumped for 27.

An off-spinner by trade, Subrayen finished with figures of 1/46 in 10 overs. Match officials reported his bowling action soon after and didn’t take further part in the series, though he was not suspended from bowling. After ‘resting’ him against Australia, South Africa did not name the 31-year-old in their squad for the ongoing series in England either.

“Subrayen underwent an independent bowling assessment at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane on August 26, where it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension for all his deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC Illegal Bowling Regulations,” the ICC said in a statement.

“With his action deemed legal, Subrayen can continue to bowl in international cricket,” the statement confirmed.

The 31-year-old had made his Test debut earlier this year against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo and took four wickets in the first innings.

The ICC’s regulations are quite clear on illegal bowling actions.

“A ball is fairly delivered in respect of the arm if, once the bowler’s arm has reached the level of the shoulder in the delivery swing, the elbow joint is not straightened partially or completely from that point until the ball has left the hand. This definition shall not debar a bowler from flexing or rotating the wrist in the delivery swing,” the law document states.

“An Illegal Bowling Action is defined in these Illegal Bowling Regulations as a bowling action where a bowler’s Elbow Extension exceeds 15 degrees, measured from the point at which the bowling arm reaches the horizontal until the point at which the ball is released (any Elbow Hyperextension shall be discounted for the purposes of determining an Illegal Bowling Action),” it adds.

This is not the first time Subrayen has faced scrutiny over his actions. His bowling action was repeatedly reported, suspended, and reassessed between 2012-2016, before being cleared to bowl again in March 2016.

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