Updated January 14, 2019 10:39:59

India batsman and part-time off spinner Ambati Rayudu has been reported for a suspect bowling action during his side's ODI against Australia in Sydney.

Rayudu's action was cited by match officials after he bowled two overs for figures of 0-13 during the series-opener, which Australia won by 34 runs.

India's number four was later trapped lbw by Jhye Richardson for a second-ball duck.

Rayudu is rarely used as a bowler in ODI cricket, only bowling 20.1 overs in his 46-match ODI career, and was likely only thrown the ball in Sydney due to the last-minute suspension of all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

The 33-year-old must undergo testing within 14 days but is permitted to continue bowling until the results of the tests are known, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement on Sunday evening.

Should he fail the independent biomechanical testing, Rayudu faces being suspended from bowling in international cricket for up to a year or until he can correct his action.

Photo: Rayudu has an average of 51.80 in first-class cricket, but now focuses on the shorter game. (AP: Rick Rycroft)

The ICC regulations state that: "An Illegal Bowling Action is a bowling action where the Player's Elbow Extension exceeds 15 degrees, measured using the Standard Analysis Protocols from the point at which the bowling arm reaches the horizontal until the point at which the ball is released."

Fifteen degrees is the point at which a bent arm can be reasonably ascertained by the naked eye, according to studies.

Umpires and match referees are directed to use the naked eye to determine whether they believe an illegal action is taking place and submit their concerns in their official report.

Rayudu, who retired from first-class cricket late last year to focus on limited-overs cricket, has played 46 ODIs and six T20 internationals for India, with a high score of 124 not out in the 50-over format.

His career has been marred by disciplinary issues, including being handed a two-game suspension by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) last year for breaching its code of conduct over a dispute with umpires in domestic cricket.

The two teams play the second of the three-match ODI series at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.

AAP/ABC

Topics: sport, cricket, australia, nsw, sydney-2000, india

First posted January 14, 2019 09:08:15