Ball tampering is in news once again after Australia was found cheating against South Africa during the third test of the ongoing four-match test series. The skipper said that the leadership decided to do the acts by its execution from inexperienced Cameron Bancroft.
Following the incident, Smith is one-match ban while David Warner has stepped down from their leadership roles. Further actions are likely to take place against the three including the coach.
All that you need to know about Ball Tampering
Here are few such instances of ball tampering in cricket history:
– by James Kuanal
1. Mike Atherton
The former England captain was found in a ball-tampering case during a test against South at Lord’s in 1990. The TV cameras found him applying dirt on the ball. When the umpires approached him, he told that he kept some pitch dust to keep the moisture of the ball. ICC fined him £2,000 instead of any ban.
2. Inzamam ul Haq
One of the harsh treatments in a ball-tampering case was given to the former Pakistan captain, Inzamam ul Haq. The incident occurred between England and Pakistan match at the Oval in 2006. The tourists, Pakistan were found of ball tampering in the match.
When the umpires found the bad condition of the ball, they penalized them five runs. When the play resumed, Inzamam refused to take the field in protest. Though the team was cleared of ball tampering, Inzamam got banned for four matches for his in-disciplinary act.
3. Sachin Tendulkar
The Legendary Indian cricketer was found of ball tampering case in a test against South Africa at Port Elizabeth in 2001. He removed a piece of grass from the ball without the umpire’s permission. International Cricket Council handed him a one-match ban. Mike Dennis was the match referee.
4. Shahid Afridi
The former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi was found of ball tampering during an ODI against Australia at WACA in 2010. He was found biting the ball to readjust the seam movement for which the ICC punished him for two T20 matches.
5. Faf Du Plessis
The South Africa captain was found to apply saliva to shine the ball during the second test at Hobart in 2016. The ICC found him guilty of ball tampering and fined him 100 percent of match fees.
Earlier in 2013, he scuffed the ball against the zip of his trousers in a test against Pakistan in 2013 for which he was penalized 50 percent match fees.
6. Vernon Philander
Often referred to as good Lander of the ball, Philander was found guilty of ball tampering during the third test against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2014. ICC found him breaching cricket law 42.1 ‘scratching the ball with fingers and thumb’ and fined him 75 percent match fees.
– by James Kuanal