Cricket Australia will introduce a watertight testing regime for bowlers suspected of throwing in domestic competitions this summer, bringing its system into line with tough new global standards.
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Fairfax Media can reveal CA will adopt International Cricket Council methods for dealing with suspect actions in the domestic one-day tournament (rebadged as the BBQ Matadors Cup, starting in Brisbane on Saturday), the Sheffield Shield and the Big Bash League, with the latter a particular focus because of the influx of overseas players.
A bowler who is mentioned by three umpires in one match will be reported, and will have to be tested at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane within 14 days.
The key difference from previous seasons is that the testing will be watched by an independent expert who will compare the bowler's action in the laboratory with match footage to ensure he is using the same action and intensity as he would in a game.
Bowlers found to flex their elbow by more than 15 degrees will be suspended from bowling in Australian domestic competitions, with a 90-day window before they can ask to be tested again.
"Cricket Australia will be adopting the International Cricket Council's newly developed global policy and testing protocol for the analysis of doubtful bowling actions for domestic competitions in Australia," a CA spokesman confirmed.
"We have advised state associations and KFC Big Bash League clubs of this amendment. The change ... ensures CA's domestic competitions are in line with international standards, testing all players under one common process ensuring consistency."
Throwing became a hot issue in the BBL two summers ago when then Brisbane Heat coach Darren Lehmann publicly questioned the action of West Indies import Marlon Samuels after a game against the Melbourne Renegades.
The Renegades have been home to Sri Lankan spin great Muthiah Muralidaran, the owner of the world's most scrutinised bowling action, for the past two seasons, but it's doubtful he will return to the BBL to fill the Renegades' remaining international vacancy this summer given the 43-year-old has played very little cricket of late.
Renegades chief executive Stuart Coventry welcomed the introduction of ICC standards on doubtful bowling actions as long as "it's one rule for all and particular players aren't singled out because of media hype".
"The testing protocols have improved and so umpires feel a lot more comfortable that if they make a report it's not going to go into a black hole," Coventry said.
Young Queensland quick Cameron Gannon was reported and suspended after the 2012-13 season, and his action was approved and his suspension lifted before last summer. South Australian captain Johan Botha has been tested and cleared three times during his career and will now have to operate under more stringent procedures.
Lehmann, as Australian coach, now sits on the ICC cricket committee that instigated the recent global effort to enforce the law against throwing. That committee is chaired by former Indian captain and leg-spinner Anil Kumble.
The ICC crackdown has resulted in Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal, Sri Lanka's Sachithra Senanayake and New Zealand's Kane Williamson being suspended from bowling in international cricket, with several others on report. In the past fortnight, the West Indies' Sunil Narine and Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez have been reported in the Champions League T20 in India. They can ask to be tested or continue to bowl, but the latter course of action carries a risk of being rubbed out if they are reported a second time.
It is expected that the Champions League, in which Cricket Australia is a shareholder along with the Board of Control for Cricket in India and Cricket South Africa, will also fall into line with the ICC in future seasons.
