THINGS USED TO ALTER THE CRICKET BALL
MINT AND SUNCREAM
England spinner Monty Panesar, who took 167 wickets in 50 Tests, admitted to using sugary mint and ‘Factor 50 Nivea suncream’ to shine the ball in a talk show on Talk Sport. “It’s like when we pay our taxes we always have loopholes,” was his explanation.
VASELINE
England pacer John Lever was accused of applying Vaseline on the ball by India captain Bishan Singh Bedi during a Test in Chennai in January, 1977.
SANDPAPER
Australia player Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera trying to rough up one side of the ball with sandpaper during a Test against South Africa in March, 2018
TROUSER ZIP
South Africa’s Faf du Plessis was captured on camera scuffing the ball against the zip of his trousers during a Test against Pakistan in 2013.
BOTTLE CAP
In 1990, New Zealand pacer Chris Pringle gouged the ball with the sharp edge of a bottle cap during a Test against Pakistan.
NAILS
Sachin Tendulkar was handed a one-match suspended ban by referee Mike Denness after the 2001 Port Elizabeth Test against South Africa. Television footage appeared to show Tendulkar scratching the ball but he said that he was cleaning the seam.
SPIKES
England pace duo Stuart Broad and James Anderson was accused of tampering by stopping the ball with the boot spikes in the third Test against South Africa in January, 2010.
TEETH
Shahid Afridi was banned for two T20s after biting the ball twice during an ODI against Australia in 2010. The umpires changed the ball.