South Australian cricket hierarchy say they’ll stick by captain Johan Botha after his clearance of having an illegal bowling action.
The South African-born offspinner has passed biomechanical testing overseen by Cricket Australia and been given the all-clear to continue as Redbacks and Adelaide Strikers captain.
“We are obviously delighted for Johan, who works tirelessly on his action,” SA Cricket’s high performance manager Jamie Cox said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Johan has made a commitment to South Australia and we will continue to strongly support him.”
Botha was cited by umpires for a suspect bowling action in SA’s one-day match against Victoria on October 4.
The 31-year-old had previously been reported on the same suspicion while playing for South Africa in his Test debut in 2006, and also during a one-day international three years later.
Botha, who joined the Redbacks as captain last season, was tested by Cricket Australia (CA) in a process which required him to bowl six deliveries from each of his repertoire – an offspinner, quicker ball, and `flicker’ ball.
The testing found Botha’s action for all deliveries was within the allowable elbow extension of 15 degrees, with an average extension of nine degrees, CA said in a statement on Wednesday.