By Akeem Greene
Guyana and West Indies fast bowler Ronsford Beaton can resume bowling in international cricket after the International Cricket Council (ICC) approved his remodelled action for a second time.
Beaton was suspended from bowling in November 2019 after he failed an independent assessment of his bowling action, which had been reported as suspect during Guyana Jaguars’ match against the United States in the Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup.
His remodelled action was recently re-assessed at Loughborough University in England, where the amount of elbow extension for all his deliveries was within the 15-degree limit allowed by the ICC.
According to an email seen by News Room Sport, match officials are still at liberty to report Beaton if they find he is not using his legal action, footage of which will be handed to them in due course.
A ‘WEIGHT’ LIFTED
Beaton was first reported on December 27, 2017 and suspended in May 2018; he was then cleared in August 2018, until his latest report and suspension.
The 29-year-old, speaking to News Room Sport on Tuesday, expressed a sigh of relief that he is now able to bowl again in Cricket West Indies and ICC sanctioned events.
“It was the best news I had for the longest while and I am very happy about that,” an obviously elated Beaton expressed.
“It was very difficult knowing you have the ability to play, but just because of the illegal action I was not available to play cricket at the highest level. The bad thing was looking at guys on the television, reading the newspaper, or listening to the radio knowing you can’t be there with them, but it was some difficult and challenging moments. I am thankful it is all over now,” he reflected on the mental frustration of being out of the game.
Beaton, a former West Indies Under-19 pacer, started his first First-Class career in March 2011 and West Indies selection came in 2017, but it only lasted two One-Day Internationals due to the suspension.
So how does the fast bowler handle the aspect of muscle memory and the mental side of knowing piercing eyes will be on his action whenever he plays?
“My confidence level is not 100% [but] it is up there; I have been putting in a lot of work over the years that I have been away from cricket, I am much fitter, and bowling is still the same in terms of hitting good areas in the nets and the practice game, so, I am excited to go back on the park and play.”
To ensure his action continues to be legal, Beaton revealed he has been doing a lot of bowling over the last couple of months, not from the usual length of his run-up, but to ensure he can regain a bowling rhythm.
His last regional match was a List A game in November 2019, and his immediate goal at this juncture is just getting on the field full-time and challenging for a spot in the Guyana Harpy Eagles squad with the Regional Four-Day Championship scheduled to start next month.
In the second Four-Day practice match held at Albion, Beaton had match figures of 14-7-30-2, and is hoping he can improve on such when the third and final match starts on Wednesday at the National Stadium, Providence.