Australia suspend Gunn for illegal bowling action

Jenny Gunn, the England fast bowler, has been suspended from Australian domestic cricket for an "illegal bowling action" just days before the start of the World Cup. Gunn has challenged the findings and Cricket Australia's bowling review group will conduct a hearing into the matter by March 12. She has also appealed against the ban.

Gunn, who plays for Western Australia, was reported by umpires for displaying a doubtful action in November. However the Cricket Australia findings will not stop her from participating in the World Cup, an ICC spokesman said. She has played six Tests, 62 one-day internationals and 10 Twenty20s, has been banned from the Australian domestic scene for 90 days. England's first match of the World Cup is against Sri Lanka in Canberra on March 7.

After being reported, Gunn made herself available to undergo testing at the Australian Institute of Sport's biomechanics laboratory in Canberra in January. The assessment report found Gunn's elbow extended further than the permissible 15 degrees.

"Any player found to have displayed an illegal action is suspended from interstate competitions until she is able to complete a biomechanical analysis that demonstrates her action is legal, but no earlier than 90 days after the date a suspension commences," a Cricket Australia spokesman said. "Gunn's suspension from Australian interstate competition commenced on 25 February."