29.03.2006
England and Sussex cricketer, James Kirtley, has been cleared by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), to resume bowling in international and competitive county cricket after he passed a reassessment of his bowling action.
James spent the winter remodeling his technique with the help of Sports Scientists from the Chelsea School at the university, after he was suspended by the ECB. Reports on his bowling action from umpires in two County matches during the 2005 season led to an Independent Assessment of his bowling action, which showed that it exceeded the ECB and International Cricket Council (ICC) permitted 15 degrees of 'Elbow Extension'.
Stuart Mills and Rob Harley, of Chelsea School, worked with James and the coaches at Sussex County Cricket Club to help modify his action to within the legal limit. This involved detailed analysis of his bowling technique using the VICON motion analysis system, which allows precise measurement of arm extension during each delivery.
On the Sussex County Cricket Club website James thanked staff at the university for the hard work they had undertaken with him over the winter. James said: 'I am delighted that the last five months of hard work has paid off - it has been an intense and emotional journey. I have received fantastic support from the Club and supporters, and I am particularly grateful to Mark Robinson and the Sussex coaching team for their tireless efforts and also Brighton University who offered their facilities and to Rob Harley and his team for their support and instant feedback. I am now looking forward to taking an active role in the season, but understand the need to continue monitoring developments.'
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
