MCC backs Glichrist in squash ball in glove controversy

London, May 9 (UNI) Marylebone Cricket Club, the guardians of the laws of cricket, has come out in support of Adam Gilchrist in the squash-ball-in-glove controversy, saying the swashbuckling Aussie opener did not contravene the rules of the game during the World Cup final.

''Apparently the addendum to the inside of the gloves was not for protection from injury but to improve the way the batsman gripped the bat handle. This should not be considered unfair,'' said the MCC in a statement today.

''Similarly, it has never been considered unfair for batsmen to use two grips on the bat handle. The glove manufacturers might, for added protection against jarring, have put an extra pad of some cushioning material as an integral part of the inside of the palm.

This would be entirely legal, but have the same effect on his grip for a batsman who wore such gloves.

''The incident could not be classed either as contravening the law or as breaching the spirit of the game,'' said the statement issued by MCC's Legal sub-Committee.

Gilchrist used the squash ball when he smashed 149 in a match-winning innings in last month's final against Sri Lanka in Barbados.

He used the ball after advice from his coach Bob Meuleman, who believed it would help him with his grip and MCC said he was perfectly entitled to do that under Law 3.6(c), which specifies only what external protective equipment is permitted for certain players.

Sri Lanka Cricket officials have threatened to raise the issue with the International Cricket Council, the game's governing body.

''We don't think he did anything illegal but we question whether it was unethical or within the spirit of the game,'' Sri Lanka Cricket board secretary Kangadaran Mathivanan had said.

UNI