Former Australia skipper Steve Waugh has welcomed the International Cricket Council's new rules on illegal bowling actions and said it will help in clearing the confusion on the vexed issue.

"Previously, the decision on whether a bowler was chucking depended on personal judgment. Different match referees and umpires saw it differently. This in turn confused the spectators and all others connected with the game," Waugh told newspersons at a press conference in Kolkata on Thursday.

"One may still have his own viewpoint on what constitutes chucking, but now at least people know clearly what the rule is. Anything below 15 degrees is legal and above 15 is illegal," the cricketing legend said.

Earlier this week, the ICC [Images] approved the uniform 15-degree rule for all bowlers following the recommendation of an expert panel, chaired by Sunil Gavaskar [Images], arguing that it is a 'sensible way forward' to find a solution to a problem afflicting the game for the last 60 years.

According to the earlier rule, fast bowlers could straighten their arms by 10 degrees and spinners were allowed only five degrees.

The new rule comes into effect from March 1.