US cricket pitch in Pakistan

I may need to revise my previous opinion after seeing the TV footage and photos of President Bush batting and bowling in Pakistan. The BBC and the Washington Post online edition have some photos of the President in the nets, while the latter offers a brief explanation for US readers:

"In the afternoon, Bush, a former owner of the Texas Rangers, took a swing at cricket, hitting a few balls and bowling -- akin to pitching -- with about two dozen children. He presented them with autographed baseballs."

A cricket pitch in a US Embassy and a President giving autographed baseballs as gifts? What are we to make of these? A none too subtle attempt to win hearts and minds or, shock horror, the beginnings of a promotion of a baseball-cricket hybrid (a further development of 20/20 "cricket")? We cricket purists will need to watch this carefully. Will Mr Howard support us or will he continue to follow in the President's footsteps whereever he walks ?

Update 7 March

The blog A Yobbo's View has three photos comparing the bowling actions of Messrs Howard, Bush and Murilitharan. Comments posted so far have focused on the legality or otherwise of the actions; I'm also interested in the immediate consequences. The PM's delivery, the video of which was repeated on Offsiders on ABC TV last Sunday, landed near his feet, whereas the President's was short but did hit the pitch.

Further update (with link to video) 11 March

To check out the video of Mr Howard's delivery see here. In fairness to him (I am not a Howard hater, only a critic of many of his policies and his bowling style) remember that this was taken a year or so ago. On this week's visit to India, according to some coy references buried in media reports, he wisely refused to chance his arm again.