New Zealand all-rounder Kane Williamson has been banned from bowling in an international cricket for having an illegal action, the International Cricket Council has announced.
The 23-year-old has become the first Kiwi cricketer to be suspended from bowling. He has taken 24 wickets in 34 tests, 23 wickets in 54 ODI’s and three wickets in 19 Twenty20 internationals for his country.
Williamson, a part time off-spinner – was reported by the match umpires and referee during the second Test between the West Indies and New Zealand at Port of Spain in June and the analysis revealed that his elbow exceeded the 15 degrees permitted by the rules.
‘I note the findings of Dr Craig Ranson and his team at Cardiff Met and will concentrate on changing whatever’s necessary to return to the bowling crease,‘ Williamson told New Zealand Cricket’s website.
‘Clearly, the onus is on me to satisfy assessors as to the legality of my action, and I’m aware I have some hard work in front of me to achieve that goal.
‘It’s never nice, going through this sort of process but it will be worth it if I can manage to bowl again at international level.’
The off-spinner, who is playing for county cricket with Yorkshire – last bowled for Black Cap in the second Twenty20 against the West Indies in Dominica on July 6.
Williamson can apply for re-assessment but before he will have to change his bowling action and to prove assessors in order to bowl again in an international cricket.