AUSTRALIA have been caught-up in one of the biggest cricketing stories in years, after admitting to ball-tampering.
Batsman Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera cheating, with Australian captain Steve Smith confessing it was his plan in the game against South Africa.
Now heads are set to roll, with head coach Darren Lehmann, Smith, vice-captain David Warner and Bancroft all in the firing line.
But as the Aussies prepare to learn their fate, what actually is ball-tampering? Find out below…
WHAT IS BALL-TAMPERING?
Ball-tampering itself if a fairly vague term.
But essentially, it is any sort of unlawful alteration to a cricket ball that will affect the motion of the ball when bowled.
For example, picking the seam of the ball, scratching or roughing-up the surface or even denting it are all deemed to be ball-tampering.
The advantage for the bowling side is that fiddling with the ball in these ways allows it to swing more in the air – making things more difficult for the opposing batsmen.
MOST READ IN CRICKET
WHAT IS THE PUNISHMENT?
While Australia’s incident may spark a re-think, the laws at present are fairly simple.
On the pitch, umpires can impose a five-run penalty against the fielding side for tampering with the ball – and replace the ball mid-innings.
After the game, players can be fined between 50 and 100 per cent of their match fee.
On top of that, offenders will be slapped with three or four demerit points – with the latter meaning a one-Test ban is imposed.
WHO’S BEEN CAUGHT BALL-TAMPERING BEFORE?
Ex-England captain Mike Atherton was fined in 1994 for keeping dirt in his pocket, which he claims was used to keep the ball dry – but could, in theory, have been used on the ball.
In 2006, England accused Pakistan of ball-tampering, with umpires launching an investigation which led to Pakistan refusing to return to play after the tea break.
In 2010, Pakistan star Shahid Afridi was banned from two Twenty20 games for biting the ball and chewing on the seam.
Three years later, South Africa’s Faf du Plessis pleaded guilty to ball-tampering for rubbing the ball on the zip of his trousers.
The very next year, team-mate Vernon Philander used his nails to dig into the side of the ball and was fined.
Du Plessis was charged with ball-tampering again in 2016, for using a a sweet mint to help shine the ball.
Leave a comment