England have contacted the International Cricket Council to express their displeasure at the way in which the "concerns" over James Kirtley's bowling action have been made public.

Thwe match referee Colonel Naushad Ali, who said after England's one-day win over Zimbabwe on Wednesday that he was studying Kirtley's action, subjected it to further scrutiny today.

Colonel Ali revealed in media interviews on Thursday that he had asked for television footage of Kirtley. There was a similar flurry of concern on the England A tour to New Zealand two winters ago before an ECB investigation cleared him.

England feel Colonel Ali should have acted more discreetly and contacted them first.

"I think it's important procedures are followed and clearly they haven't been in this case," said ECB chief executive Tim Lamb.

"I've been surprised how this has come out. The whole thing hasn't been particularly well handled, and I feel sorry for James - no one should be in any doubt about the seriousness of the charge of throwing against a bowler.

Lamb, who is in Harare for an ICC conference, will not be making an official complaint about Colonel Ali.

He added: "This is a matter for the ICC, and we don't want to pick a fight with the match referee - we still have three games more after today."

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