Yorkshire player’s bowling action ‘illegal’

Williamson, who helped the white rose county go top of the county championship with a 220-run win over Middlesex at Scarborough yesterday, has been ruled to have an illegal action.

Independent analysis found that the New Zealand off-spinner’s arm exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations for most of his deliveries.

Williamson, who was reported after the Test match against the West Indies in Trinidad last month, can apply for re-assessment after he has modified his bowling action.

The analysis was performed at the Cardiff Metropolitan University on July 9.

The 23-year-old Williamson, a former New Zealand Under 19s captain, is mainly a batsman but has taken 24 Test wickets.

In the latest county match he had scores of 14 and 62 and bowled only three wicket-less overs for 12 runs.