Australia is braced for illegal tactics from leg spinner Imran Tahir following revelations that ICC officials considered banning the South African from bowling last year for repeatedly running on the pitch.

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A secret Australian dossier identifies Tahir as a weak link who could capitulate if dominated by the top-order batsmen.

The Courier-Mail reports that Tahir has raised the ire of two leading umpires in the past year for running on the pitch centre in his follow through, an act that breaches the laws of cricket.

During last November's second Test against Australia, English umpire Ian Gould privately issued two warnings to Tahir and threatened to remove him from the attack if he flouted the rules for a third time in the dying overs of the Johannesburg epic.

Gould's warning to Tahir came just six months after the Pakistan-born spinner also received a rebuke from Australian umpire Simon Taufel for the same offence during his One-day debut at the World Cup.

Running on the pitch centre is outlawed because repeated traction can wear key areas of the wicket, giving assistance to spinners such as Tahir.

Tahir has impressed at first-class level, taking 642 wickets at 26.21, but has struggled in the Test arena, managing 26 wickets at an average of 40.19.

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