James Kirtley has had his action called into question by match referee Colonel Naushad Ali following the first one-day international between England and Zimbabwe. Kirtley took 2 for 33 in an impressive performance at Harare but Colonel Ali expressed doubts about his action after the match and is to study videos of the game with umpires Russell Tiffin and Ian Robinson before deciding whether to report Kirtley to the ICC.

"From what I've seen," Ali said, "there could be a problem with Kirtley's action. I understand he's had problems in the past and, as this is his first international, he can't yet have been cleared by the ICC."

It is not a new experience for Kirtley, who was reported after taking six wickets in an unofficial A Test between England and New Zealand in 1999-2000. He was eventually cleared by the ECB however, following a series of tests conducted by the biomechanics department at Brighton University.

Before he left for Zimbabwe, Kirtley said: "When I was reported the first time, it really knocked the stuffing out of me and my initial thoughts were that my career could be over. But, as far as I'm concerned, the slate is perfectly clean. I've been thoroughly checked and filmed - and there was nothing wrong with my action."

Colonel Ali clearly thinks otherwise, however, though quite why he felt the need to go public with his views before an official decision has been made remains unclear.

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