What is Considered as Ball Tampering in Cricket?

Last Updated:Oct 20, 2023

Ball tampering in cricket is a controversial and illegal practice that involves altering the condition of the cricket ball to gain an unfair advantage over the opposition. 

It is considered a breach of the Laws of Cricket, specifically Law 41.3, which pertains to the condition of the ball. The 1xBet platform also allows you to try Indian cricket betting, and here all bettors can wager on a wide range of different occurrences too.

Ball tampering can take various forms, and it has been a subject of great scrutiny and debate in the world of cricket. This involves actions that change the condition of the cricket ball. 

Its purpose is to encourage more swing or seam movement or to deteriorate the surface for the benefit of the bowling side. The 4 most common methods of ball tampering include

  • licking or saliva;
  • scratching or picking;
  • bottle caps or foreign objects;
  • and shining with clothing.

For example, bowlers often use their saliva to shine one side of the ball, which can aid in swing bowling. However, excessive use of saliva or other foreign substances, such as sugary substances, to alter the surface is considered illegal. This is 1st among the most used ball tampering methods. 

Bettors are invited to try cricket betting at 1xBet India, where they can also wager if any episode of ball tampering will take place. While enjoying online betting games it’s also relevant to install strong software for online security. 

DO YOU KNOW?
Waqar Younis was the first bowler to be suspended for ball tampering after a test in 2000 and he was banned from playing one match. 

In 2nd place, players may use their fingernails or other sharp objects to scratch or pick at the surface of the ball, hoping to roughen one side. A rough side can lead to a reverse swing, where the ball moves in the opposite direction to the shiny side.

In some notorious cases, players have been caught using foreign objects like bottle caps, sandpaper, or even sharpened spikes to scuff or roughen the ball. Such actions are blatant forms of tampering and are strictly against the rules. In terms of ranking, this would be the 3rd most used method.

In 4th place, fielders, particularly those in the slip cordon, sometimes shine one side of the ball using their clothing, often trousers. While this is accepted to a certain extent, overzealous or abrasive rubbing can be seen as tampering.

A Few Incidents of This Kind

One of the most infamous incidents involved the Australian cricket team during their tour of South Africa in 2018. Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper to tamper with the ball during a Test match. Enjoy the pocket-sized betting offered by 1xBet, where the Australian national side is constantly featured as well.

Captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner were also implicated. All 3 players faced suspension, with Smith and Warner banned for 1 year and Bancroft for 9 months. The incident had far-reaching consequences for Australian cricket, leading to a change in team leadership and a renewed emphasis on sportsmanship.

In 2nd place, we had a Test match between Pakistan and England in 2006. Here umpire Darrell Hair accused the Pakistani team of ball tampering and awarded 5 penalty runs to England. This led to a major controversy, and the Pakistan team refused to take the field after the tea break, resulting in the match being awarded to England.

Finally, former England captain Mike Atherton faced allegations of ball tampering during a Test match against South Africa in 1994. He was accused of using dirt in his pocket to tamper with the ball. While Atherton denied wrongdoing, the incident generated considerable debate and controversy. The betting at 1xBet is pocket-sized too, and here you can make wagers on all kinds of occurrences. 

To avert any compromise with the condition of the ball, the cricket ball manufacturers have also changed the design over the years. They work on the quality considering the weight, shape, and speed of the ball while swinging. 

Due to these innovations, the market of cricket balls is forecasted to keep growing till 2032 as shown in the graph below. 

Cricket Ball Market Growth from 2022 to 2032

What is the Penalty for Ball Tampering? 

There are various penalties and rules implemented to prevent ball-tampering from playing an unbiased game. The most common one is replacing the ball at the request of the captain or a specific team may be permitted to choose the ball before starting the match. 

When a ball tampering incident is suspected and proved positive, the other team will be awarded five penalty runs which could change the ranking of any side. 

The guilty bowler will be debarred from playing that innings. In fact, the captain or the team may be penalized for continuing the series as per the severity of the punishment. 

Conclusion

Cricket authorities, including the International Cricket Council (ICC), have implemented 4 main measures to prevent ball-tampering and maintain the integrity of the game. We have enforced strict measures and the code of conduct laws have been updated. 

Technology is also quite helpful when discovering these incidents. Also, investment in spreading awareness and educating old and young cricketers has been greatly increased to ensure fair play.




Samara Davis

Samara is someone who provides the best and comprehensive information for almost all the topics. Her researching skills are tremendous and she loves to read and explore the extra normal topics and share it with others also.

FROM OUR BLOGS
Related Post
error: Content is protected !!
×