Decision on legality of Shillingford, Samuels actions this week

The West Indies have appealed to the ICC not to rule on the legality of spinners Shane Shillingford and Marlon Samuels during the second Test against New Zealand, starting Wednesday.

A decision on the bowlers' actions is due on the third day of the Test, but, AFP reports, West Indies coach Ottis Gibson said that would not be fair.

The actions of key spinner Shillingford and part-timer Samuels were reported during the West Indies second Test against India in Mumbai last month.

The International Cricket Council ordered them to undergo independent testing, which was conducted in Australia while the players were en route to New Zealand.

The report was to be handed over to the ICC within a 14-day period, which ends on the third day of the Test in Wellington.

"We have not heard anything from the ICC," said Gibson on Tuesday.

"We have left it up to them. They are the ones that have to digest the reports and give us the results.

"If nothing is said before the Test starts on Wednesday, I don't believe we will know until after the game. I don't think it would be fair for them or us to issue the results in the middle of the game.

"We would prefer it to take place before the game starts on Wednesday or after."

Shillingford was a vital weapon in the West Indies armoury in the drawn first Test in Dunedin.

With New Zealand chasing 112 for victory, he ripped out the top order, taking four for 26, forcing the New Zealanders to adopt a cautious approach and they were 33 runs short of their target when rain brought an early end to the Test.

Shillingford is being investigated for his doosra delivery while Samuels, who did not bowl in the first Test, is being examined over his faster ball.

Both players have previously been banned from bowling because of illegal actions.

Samuels did not bowl for three years after first being reported in 2008, while Shillingford was banned in 2010 and returned to the crease a year later after undergoing remedial work on his action.