Brisbane Heat coach Darren Lehmann has questioned the legality of Marlon Samuels' action after his side fell to a six-wicket loss to Melbourne Renegades on Saturday night.
In a seesawing tussle at Etihad Stadium, the Heat were restricted to 7-133 in their initial innings as West Indian all-rounder Samuels kept things very tight, recording figures of 0-18 which included an economical seven off Brisbane's final over.
Samuels, though, has already been suspended from bowling in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as questions were raised about his action, and Lehmann felt Big Bash League officials should have similar concerns.
"I've spoken to the umpires about it," Lehmann said.
"I just want something done.
"He couldn't bowl in the IPL (Indian Premier League) last year, yet he can bowl in the BBL.
"We've got to seriously look at what we're doing. Are we here to play cricket properly or what?
"If he's deemed legal, I'm totally understanding of that.
"But from my point of view from 20 years' cricket, I've got a problem with 120km/h off no steps."
Renegades coach Simon Helmot questioned whether Lehmann should have made the comments.
"It's disappointing to have comments made like that. We'll take it up with Cricket Australia tomorrow," he said.
Helmot would still have been particularly pleased that Samuels and fellow import, Sri Lankan veteran Muttiah Muralitharan (2-22), produced some tight bowling, especially after seeing his unbeaten side seriously struggle to make 134 in their run chase.
With four overs remaining, the Renegades still needed 46 runs, before a late batting blitz from Tom Cooper (29 off 15), Ben Rohrer (30 off 25) and Will Sheridan (11 off five) saw the Melbourne side pile on 45 runs from three of the last four overs.
That effort meant it simply required Renegades’ finisher Rohrer to crack it through mid-on for four as his side won their fourth game this season with five balls to spare.
However, Rohrer feared the side may have left their run a little too late.
"I think over 12 (runs per over), it's pretty hard," Rohrer told <i>Foxsports</i> after the game.
"Especially on a wicket like that, so it was getting to a point where we knew we had to go and luckily Tommy hit a couple of big bombs and the rest is history, I suppose.
"We've got a few down the order that can hit and a few that can work them around like myself and it works pretty well together tonight and hopefully it can for the rest of the tournament."
First Posted 23 December, 2012 11:01AM AEST
