BALL TAMPERING: HOW AUSSIES’ SHAME STACKS UP
DIRT IN THE POCKET (1994)
Mike Atherton held onto the England captaincy and avoided suspension but he was fined $3700. The young skipper was using dirt, taken from the pitch, to try to keep his hands less sweaty while working on the ball during a Test against South Africa at Lord’s.
THE FORFEIT (2006)
Pakistan refused to take the field after tea on day four of a Test in England following ball-tampering accusations levelled by umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove. Hair and Doctrove called the match off, awarding England the win via forfeiture. It prompted years of inter-board spats over the result, Hair’s capacity to umpire and the governance of the International Cricket Council.
THE BITE (2010)
Pakistan star Shahid Afridi was banned from two Twenty20 internationals after being found guilty of ball tampering during an ODI in Perth. Standing in as skipper, Afridi was caught on cameras trying to bite and chew the seam.
THE ZIPPER (2013)
Faf du Plessis pleaded guilty to the charge of ball tampering and was fined 50% of his match fee. The South African rubbed the ball on the zipper of his pants pocket, prompting umpires to award a five-run penalty against the Proteas. Team manager Mohammed Moosaje insisted it was “harsh” to call it tampering, while AB de Villiers insisted “we are not cheats”.
NOT SO SUBTLE SCRATCHING (2014)
South Africa paceman Vernon Philander was captured on cameras using his fingers and thumb to scratch the ball during a Test in Sri Lanka. Philander dug his nails into the rough side of the ball. He accepted the charge and was fined 75% of his match fee.
MINTGATE (2016)
South Africa enjoyed a crushing win over Australia in Hobart, after which footage emerged of du Plessis using a mint lolly to help shine the ball. The ICC vowed to investigate and du Plessis was charged with ball tampering. Du Plessis maintained his innocence throughout a hearing and appeal but never managed to beat the charge. The skipper still has the resultant three demerit points on his record.