Some of the world's leading fast bowlers could soon find their actions scrutinised in the same way as Sussex's James Kirtley.

The International Cricket Council are set to launch a clampdown on suspect actions after research carried out over the last 15 months in Australia discovered that several bowlers, representing four different countries, illegally straightened their elbow during delivery.

Kirtley was reported last October on his England debut in Zimbabwe and has had to re-model his action. He was finally given the all-clear by an ECB panel on Tuesday and their report will now be passed to the ICC.

Sussex chairman Don Trangmar spoke to the panel which was chaired by David Acfield and included chairman of selectors David Graveney.

He believes that the problems which plagued Kirtley are much more widespread and the evidence he produced seems to support him.

Biomechanics at the Australian Insitute of Sport, working in conjunction with the Australian Cricket Board, used high-speed cameras operating at 250 frames per second to collect footage from Test matches and one-day internationals involving Australia, South Africa, West Indies and Zimbabwe.

They discovered that most of the 20 bowlers they analysed straighten the arm between the horizontal position - when the arm is parallel to the ground - and the point at which the ball is released, sometimes as much as ten degrees.

Several bowlers also hyper-extend - where the elbow is bent backwards - before flexing so that it roughly straightens when the ball is delivered.

Trangmar said: "People should get away from the idea that this is a James Kirtley issue.

"The evidence that is emerging suggest that the problems which James had are much more widespread among first class bowlers than has hitherto been revealed. The work that the Australians have done is a real cause for concern and I told the panel that on Tuesday.

"It's high on the ICC's agenda now. It would appear from the advanced technology that is now available that a considerable number of fast bowlers are breaking the law as it stands.

"We must not leave the public with the impression that this is an issue which just applies to James. I wonder what the reaction would have been if England had been in Australia when they did all this analysis."

Kirtley re-modelled his action with help from Sussex coach Peter Moores and the ECB's bowling advisor Bob Cottam.

County captain Chris Adams has revealed that Cottam has also been working with some of Sussex's other seamers including Robin Martin-Jenkins, Carl Hopkinson, who joins the professional staff when the players report back on Monday, and Adams himself.

Adams said: "Bob is very generous with his assistance. He has been doing little bits with Robin, Carl and myself and I think it will be beneficial to all concerned."

Adams finished top of the national bowling averages last season, even though he took a modest ten wickets from 40.2 overs, and says he has done more work on his bowling during the winter than at any time during his career.

Adams believes Kirtley's all-clear will give the whole squad a massive boost.

"It's fantastic news at just the right time as we start preparing for the new season," he said.