Sri Lanka spinner Sachithra Senanayake in trouble over action

Sri Lanka off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake has been reported for a suspect bowling action following his side’s win over England in the fourth one-day international at Lord’s on Saturday, the International Cricket Council said yesterday.

Senanayake, 29, was reported by the match officials after concerns were raised about a number of his deliveries.

“Senanayake’s bowling action will now be scrutinised further under the ICC process relating to bowlers reported in tests, ODIs and T20Is,” the ICC said in a statement on its website (www.icc-cricket.com).

“The off-spinner is required to undergo testing within 21 days, and, during this period, he is permitted to continue bowling in international cricket until the results of the testing are known.”

Senanayake has played one Test, 33 ODIs and 17 Twenty20 matches for Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, Peter Moores is calling on England to produce a “complete” performance in the fifth ODI at Edgbaston to kick-start his new era with a series victory at the first attempt.

England, who have twice led the one-day international series against Sri Lanka, face a decider today after the tourists held their nerve to grab a seven-run win at Lord’s two days ago.

For Moores, the first man to return to the job as England head coach, series success will be an obvious initial vindication as he and captain Alastair Cook seek to set a new tone following last winter’s Ashes whitewash.

England’s victories to date, at The Oval and then Old Trafford, were separated by a near-record defeat at Durham before a loss at Lord’s where not even Jos Buttler’s brilliant maiden hundred was enough to stop Sri Lanka levelling the series again.

Asked about the significance of a series win, Moores said: “It would be great. We’ll treat it like a final. We know we have a World Cup coming up and there will be a lot of big games in that.”

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