ICC seeks tougher penalties for ball offences

“Personal abuse and balltampering are serious”

Warner and South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock clashed in a stairwell during the third Test. Australia spinner Nathan Lyon dropped the ball on AB de Villiers while celebrating a run-out – and Proteas bowler Kagiso Rabada was banned for a game after a shoulder-bump on Smith took him over the ICC’s demerit points threshold mark. Rabada was reprieved on appeal. ICC committee chairman Anil Kumble said in a statement: “The group felt that excessive personal abuse and balltampering were serious offences. They felt this should be reflected in the way in which these offences are dealt with. “There was also a lot of strong support for giving the match officials more authority and subsequently greater support around their decision-making.” The ICC has recommended increased sanctions for ball-tampering – and a new offence relating to personal abuse. Both issues were to the fore in Australia’s Test tour of South Africa earlier this year. The tour ended with Australia captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner banned for a year and batsman Cameron Bancroft banned for nine months after the latter damaged the ball with sandpaper. A bad-tempered series witnessed numerous other flashpoints. Many of these could be covered by the recommended new offence of “personal, insulting, offensive or orchestrated abuse”.