NO SOONER had Muttiah Chuckalot become the world's leading Test wicket-taker than it was decided to outlaw his "doosra". This is the ball which spins the other way from his usual off break, and extensive studies using all the latest gadgetry have confirmed that he throws it.

Many of us believe he throws every ball and it makes a mockery of the game that he not only got to the record before the more deserving Shane Warne but also knocked Courtney Walsh off the top of the pile when the West Indian had sweated far harder for his legitimate rewards.

The doosra is a relatively recent addition to Chuckalot's armoury, but he has taken more than a handful of Test wickets with it. Will they now be expunged from the records?

It was also a pity that he reached the 520 landmark by dismissing Mkulele Nkala, who might now become the subject of a quiz question but would probably never have been heard of but for the disgraceful situation which is wrecking Zimbabwe cricket.

Warne will also have the chance of easy wickets shortly against the non-white line-up of Zimbabwe rookies in what threatens to be the mismatch of this or any other century. Instead of threatening England with fines and suspension from international cricket if they don't go to Zimbabwe, the International Cricket Council should be clamping down on the politically motivated people who are driving out genuine Test cricketers like Heath Streak.

But the ICC are probably politically motivated themselves, being increasingly dominated by the Asian countries.

WHATEVER he may or may not have said about Newcastle's fans when he thought no-one could hear him, the only criticisms I have of the admirable Sir Bobby Robson are that he signed at least one rogue too many in Lee Bowyer and, at 71, is going on too long.

The fans have a right to complain if the team, needing a win to maintain Champions League hopes, can only draw at home to Wolves. Failing to qualify for the lucrative top tier of European competition means an essentially young team have gone backwards this season when they were expected to kick on

No doubt Sir Bobby greatly improved things in his first few years as manager, but some kind of change is needed if the gap between Newcastle and the Big Four is not to grow wider. I include Liverpool among the big guns because there is clearly going to be some major investment there, and if it comes from a corrupt politician in Thailand why should we worry when football is already morally bankrupt?

It's not clear whether Sir Bobby is hanging on for another year to allow Alan Shearer to take over when he finishes playing, but Newcastle surely need someone with a proven track record in management. If Martin O'Neill is hanging on at Celtic until Fergie retires at Old Trafford it could yet be a lengthy wait, and what is the point of him continuing to waste his talent in Scottish football? Celtic are one of two large sharks swimming with a load of minnows, and what satisfaction can there be in that? O'Neill would surely enjoy himself far more with the Magpies.

THERE are things more boring than Scottish football, of course, and chief among them is motor racing. Once it virtually ceased to be sport, this column became a Grand Prix free zone, but it was good to note last week that some of the gadgetry which has taken away the skill factor is to be outlawed.

Then came the depressing announcement that Michael Schumacher had beaten Jonny Wilkinson to the World Sportsman of the Year title at the Laureus Awards presentation in Portugal.

This is ludicrous. Before Schumacher can aspire to such a title he should be made to drive something other than a Ferrari, who have come first and second in three of this year's five races. If Grand Prix chiefs really want to resurrect the sport they should persuade Schumacher to retire and give someone else a chance.

IT IS estimated that it costs financially-strapped county cricket £3.6m to employ two overseas players each. Durham have always been against having two, the Professional Cricketers' Association are opposed to it, and a review body looking into the structure of domestic cricket were against it.

The 18 counties are split on the issue, but they have rejected the review body's findings, set up a review of their own, and it seems that counties will be allowed to continue with two overseas men.

I find it very depressing that Yorkshire have signed Phil Jaques as a temporary replacement for Darren Lehmann. I had hoped never to clap eyes on him again after he scored a bucketload or runs for Northamptonshire against Durham last season when appearing as an EU-qualified Australian.

Aside from that there really ought to be enough talent in the Broad Acres to get Yorkshire out of the second division without recourse to an import who is hardly a household name.

Published: 14/05/2004