How long have the Australians been ball-tampering for?

[MenInG]

I am pretty sure that this is not a one-off.

This whole leadership committee thing cannot be a new idea - this was a carefully throughout and possibly well practiced method.

So how long has this been going on? Was it used when Pakistan toured Australia?

 

[big_gamer007]

Tampering has been going on from Sarfaraz Nawaz/IK time.. maybe even earlier.. Every team does it some get caught some don’t.. Withh so many cameras it’s becoming difficult these days not to get caught.

 

[Mamoon]

As long as South Africa, England, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh.

 

[MenInG]

As long as South Africa, England, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh.

Ah yes so we arent alone.

 

[rhony]

Why wasn't Smith and his "leadership" team penalized even after they confessed?

 

[HuzaifaE]

I am pretty sure that this is not a one-off.

This whole leadership committee thing cannot be a new idea - this was a carefully throughout and possibly well practiced method.

So how long has this been going on? Was it used when Pakistan toured Australia?

The entire tenure of Lehmann and Smith collectively is tarnished and that famed "brainfade" incident seems far from any actual momentary lapse of judgement. It's clear both are overly self righteous hypocrites of the highest order and completely disingenuous liars.

Tampering has been going on from Sarfaraz Nawaz/IK time.. maybe even earlier.. Every team does it some get caught some don’t.. Withh so many cameras it’s becoming difficult these days not to get caught.

A lot of "ball tampering" is borderline in many aspects, mints, zippers etc. Those are things that every team has done. Foreign external objects of this nature is not the same and not as common, that's just false. A lot accusations are made even at throwing the ball in the field from player to player across a dry patch next to the pitch etc. You can't equate every incident. This specific one is as bad as any I can remember.

 

[Boi]

I'm pretty sure they tampered with the ball on that final day of our Test in Melbourne in 16/17. The ball didn't reverse all game only for them to manage it on the final day to skittle Pakistan out.

 

[big_gamer007]

Why wasn't Smith and his "leadership" team penalized even after they confessed?

They will be penalized they just confessed 5 minutes ago.. Match referee/ICC will take action..

Would be surprised if they don’t.

 

[MenInG]

Sorry but nothing borderline here - you are using an abrasive substance in this day and age and waiting to be caught - until then you do it without any problem

 

[MenInG]

As long as South Africa, England, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh.

By the way, apart from making empty statements, do you actually have any proof in recent times to back what you have said about Pakistan? No point mentioning stuff from old days

 

[big_gamer007]

The entire tenure of Lehmann and Smith collectively is tarnished and that famed "brainfade" incident seems far from any actual momentary lapse of judgement. It's clear both are overly self righteous hypocrites of the highest order and completely disingenuous liars.



A lot of "ball tampering" is borderline in many aspects, mints, zippers etc. Those are things that every team has done. Foreign external objects of this nature is not the same and not as common, that's just false. A lot accusations are made even at throwing the ball in the field from player to player across a dry patch next to the pitch etc. You can't equate every incident. This specific one is as bad as any I can remember.

Don’t get me wrong I am not justifying this incident in any way.. Biting the ball, using long nails to mess with seam, using foreign object etc is all tampering and if someone gets caught they should Be punished.. Ultimately your final aim is what matters so using your zip to tamper with the ball is same as using a foreign object and deserves a ban..

It’s like murder you can kill someone with your bare hands or bring an AK 47 to kill someone ultimately in both cases your aim is to kill the person similarly here the aim is to change shape of the ball which is against the rules and deserves punishment..

 

[hadi123]

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BgtsjMlnuqR/" data-instgrm-version="8" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); widthlc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BgtsjMlnuqR/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-stylermal; font-weightrmal; line-height:17px; text-decorationne; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Australian DIY kit set .... !!! #SAvAUS</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-spacewrap;">Uma publicação partilhada por <a href="https://www.instagram.com/michaelvaughan/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-stylermal; font-weightrmal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Michael vaughan</a> (@michaelvaughan) a <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2018-03-24T1758+00:00">24 de Mar, 2018 às 10:15 PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

 

[Markhor]

I'm pretty sure they tampered with the ball on that final day of our Test in Melbourne in 16/17. The ball didn't reverse all game only for them to manage it on the final day to skittle Pakistan out.

To be fair, I think we'd have been skittled out tampering or not !

 

[Mamoon]

By the way, apart from making empty statements, do you actually have any proof in recent times to back what you have said about Pakistan? No point mentioning stuff from old days

We are the inventors of ball-tampering, but none of our players have been caught tampering since Afridi. However, it would be naive to assume that our players do not do it, considering our modern legacy of playing the game against the spirit of cricket.

All teams tamper with the ball. Some get caught, some don't. There is no Saints XI in world cricket today.

 

[babajee]

We are the inventors of ball-tampering, but none of our players have been caught tampering since Afridi. However, it would be naive to assume that our players do not do it, considering our modern legacy of playing the game against the spirit of cricket.

All teams tamper with the ball. Some get caught, some don't. There is no Saints XI in world cricket today.

So we ball tampered in CT :

 

[MenInG]

We are the inventors of ball-tampering, but none of our players have been caught tampering since Afridi. However, it would be naive to assume that our players do not do it, considering our modern legacy of playing the game against the spirit of cricket.

All teams tamper with the ball. Some get caught, some don't. There is no Saints XI in world cricket today.

I understand your need to show your love for Pakistan but read what I asked. Show me proof in the past 5 years where Pakistan have been named for ball tampering. We are talking about this day and age where so much is known and all ambiguities clarified.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

We are the inventors of ball-tampering, but none of our players have been caught tampering since Afridi. However, it would be naive to assume that our players do not do it, considering our modern legacy of playing the game against the spirit of cricket.

All teams tamper with the ball. Some get caught, some don't. There is no Saints XI in world cricket today.

Utter tripe I'm afraid.

Not every sin is by Pakistan.

Australia are in a real mess and I doubt all their wins under Smith now.

 

[Mamoon]

So we ball tampered in CT :

Maybe, maybe not. No team does it in all matches, but all teams do at some point. This is not an issue that is limited to a few teams only, and it is not something to take a moral high ground on.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Don't understand why people are bringing Pakistan and India into the discussion. Whether others do it or not, this act in itself is despicable and should be called out. When others are caught, they should be called out as well.

Also what happened to Faf etc is irrelevant. You have to measure in prevailing standards and not in the past.

Australian team is guilty and should be severely punished.

Anything else is just fluff. Let's address the matter at hand.

 

[MMHS]

I can't prove, so anyone can ignore my post here.

I think, more or less ball tempering was practiced by every team to an extent. Aussies had the "hit the deck" type pacers therefore not necessarily tempering balls will help their cause always. BUT, what I have noticed is Strac has been getting lots of reverse in last 2/3 years - most notably, I have seen him swinging old ball deceptively in that MCG Test 4th innings against PAK. May be he did swing like that earlier with old ball, which I haven't noticed; but if I am to put a date here - I'll say, Aussies used a tempered ball to knock down PAK's 2nd innings on what was still a very good batting surface and without reverse, that Test would have ended in draw.

But, I again say - I can't prove.

 

[carbon11]

South Africans were also tampering with the ball against Pakistan in a test series using the zip on the trousers

 

[BreadPakoda]

So we ball tampered in CT :

The absolute obsession with CT out here.

On topic - I really don't think ball tampering is as wide spread these days as [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] suggests. Its looked down upon more strongly than ever before.

 

[Sin Nombre]

Maybe, maybe not. No team does it in all matches, but all teams do at some point. This is not an issue that is limited to a few teams only, and it is not something to take a moral high ground on.

I respect you playing Devil's advocate in general but there is systematic cheating going on under Lehmann and Smith which is an allegation I would not make lightly against any other current team.

 

[Major]

Dont even mind if they tempered it against us.

Everyone does it.

 

[Major]

So we ball tampered in CT :

I remember a T20 match against New Zealand, where we ended up reversing the ball.

I think it was GUl who took the wickets.

 

[BreadPakoda]

Dont even mind if they tempered it against us.

Everyone does it.

Can you specify some instances or is this another random statement?

And just as I post, you share one instance. Thanks. Can you share a few more, please. I'm intrigued.

 

[HuzaifaE]

The culture of ball tampering has changed, there was undeniably an era where it was commonplace, that era is no more.

Ball tampering is not a common every day occurrence anymore and past events don't make current ones acceptable.

It was as against the word in the rule book then as it is now, difference is everyone knew everyone did it regularly then, and it was more of an unspoken understood situation , that is not the case anymore and hasn't been since the turn of the century.

Of course every team has done it at some point to varying extents and varying success, that's not what this should be about.

 

[Major]

Can you specify some instances or is this another random statement?

And just as I post, you share one instance. Thanks. Can you share a few more, please. I'm intrigued.

read the confessions of the ex players.

Plus remember Faf with the zipper?

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

the thing that shocks me here is how blatant it was, its nearing Afridi eating ball level stupidity.

Faf and Brits are a bit more subtle, zippers and toffees and all that.

 

[Major]

The culture of ball tampering has changed, there was undeniably an era where it was commonplace, that era is no more.

Ball tampering is not a common every day occurrence anymore and past events don't make current ones acceptable.

It was as against the word in the rule book then as it is now, difference is everyone knew everyone did it regularly then, and it was more of an unspoken understood situation , that is not the case anymore and hasn't been since the turn of the century.

Of course every team has done it at some point to varying extents and varying success, that's not what this should be about.

how could you or I say this without being part of the team management?

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Whenever Pakistanis have been caught doing their shenanigans, they have copped it big time. All over media, cherry on top etc.

Now it is Australias turn to be caught, and suddenly everyone is on the bandwagon of "everyone does it. Pakistanis did it too " etc etc

There is a limit to how much one can be one's own worst enemy.

Daft.

 

[HuzaifaE]

how could you or I say this without being part of the team management?

I have no idea which aspect you're talking about.

For the way it used to be common, because plenty of cricketers have said just that? Hadlee said it wasn't Pakistan-specific when he was asked about it, Alec Stewart said it was understood what was happening and teams tried to use tactics to alter the state of the ball to gain an advantage etc.

If you mean evidence every team has done it, I can spit off South Africa, Pakistan, Australia, England all tampering off the top of my head without digging.

If you mean evidence it isn't commonplace, well firstly the reactions to ball tampering compared to those similar accusations in the 80s or 90s and the low frequency "catching" rate despite the nonstop scrutiny and camera footage in this day and age.

 

[shokz1408]

I think we should look at it as an isolated incident, he was caught on camera, and will be punished.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Since start of cricket. These gorays couldn't figure out reverse swing hence cried about it until we taught them.

 

[Hasan123]

Most teams do it. It's just who gets caught will be punished and if you don't you get away with it. I don't like it but it happens unfortunately.

 

[shokz1408]

Personally, I'm not fussed about tampering with the ball if it is not doing anything. Try and inspire some reverse swing, and bring some excitement in a batting friendly game.

However, because i haven't come accross it yet, I don't know for sure how id feel if I was more closely involved for example a team caught tampering the ball v pakistan. Maybe I'd still be okay, as long as it doesn't cost us the game.

 

[Mamoon]

I understand your need to show your love for Pakistan but read what I asked. Show me proof in the past 5 years where Pakistan have been named for ball tampering. We are talking about this day and age where so much is known and all ambiguities clarified.

As I said, Pakistan have not been caught tampering in the last 8 years. However, I do not recall any team apart from England, South Africa and Australia getting caught in the last few years. This does not mean that Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, New Zealand etc. do not tamper with the ball.

All teams do. This is not the first time Smith's Australia have done this. If they weren't caught today, would you have asked for proof for their ball-tampering?

It is absurd that people are even arguing this.

 

[Mamoon]

I respect you playing Devil's advocate in general but there is systematic cheating going on under Lehmann and Smith which is an allegation I would not make lightly against any other current team.

I am not playing anything here. I am simply stating the fact that all teams tamper with the ball. I do not know about the systematic cheating, but ball-tampering is not part of it. Everyone is guilty here.

 

[KingKhanWC]

As I said, Pakistan have not been caught tampering in the last 8 years. However, I do not recall any team apart from England, South Africa and Australia getting caught in the last few years. This does not mean that Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, New Zealand etc. do not tamper with the ball.

All teams do. This is not the first time Smith's Australia have done this. If they weren't caught today, would you have asked for proof for their ball-tampering?

It is absurd that people are even arguing this.

There is no evidence Pakistan team has tampered any ball since Afridi bit the ball. You only have assumptions, nothing more. To say every team DOES it is just accusations based on history, nothing more.

 

[Mamoon]

There is no evidence Pakistan team has tampered any ball since Afridi bit the ball. You only have assumptions, nothing more. To say every team DOES it is just accusations based on history, nothing more.

It is not an assumption; it is common knowledge.

 

[Aman]

They were 100% tampering with the ball in NZ, it never reverses here and becomes difficult/near impossible to take 10 wickets in the second innings.

 

[Sin Nombre]

I am not playing anything here. I am simply stating the fact that all teams tamper with the ball. I do not know about the systematic cheating, but ball-tampering is not part of it. Everyone is guilty here.

Why is everyone guilty here when only one team and one captain has been caught on camera not once but twice in a year with very intentional cheating?

 

[Mamoon]

Why is everyone guilty here when only one team and one captain has been caught on camera not once but twice in a year with very intentional cheating?

England have been caught as well lately, and South Africa are the biggest offenders with du Plessis leading the way. He has been caught three times in three years. If Smith is a cheat, what word are we going to use to describe du Plessis?

Every year, we have one or two players getting caught. It does not mean that they get caught every time they do it. They obviously get away on many occasions as well.

 

[Mamoon]

It appears that people are doing bhangra primarily because Australia is involved here. Too many chips on our shoulders and too many axes to grind.

 

[Sin Nombre]

England have been caught as well lately, and South Africa are the biggest offenders with du Plessis leading the way. He has been caught three times in three years. If Smith is a cheat, what word are we going to use to describe du Plessis?

Every year, we have one or two players getting caught. It does not mean that they get caught every time they do it. They obviously get away on many occasions as well.

Given how heated series between any two of Aus, India, Eng and SA are (maybe not Eng vs SA), do you think the home broadcaster will let the opposition get away with cheating?

Also, mint/gum is not the same as using high grade sandpaper orchestrated by captain and coach.

Faf deservedly gets called a cheat for the zipper incident.

 

[Aman]

It appears that people are doing bhangra primarily because Australia is involved here. Too many chips on our shoulders and too many axes to grind.

No axes to grind, people have been aware of the Aussies doing this for a long time. It doesn't help that they've tried to talk about the integirity of the game and not crossing the line only to follow up with this.

FYI, NZ rarely gets the ball to reverse. Aus get to go frequently, even in conditions where it never happens.

 

[Aman]

Given how heated series between any two of Aus, India, Eng and SA are (maybe not Eng vs SA), do you think the home broadcaster will let the opposition get away with cheating?

Also, mint/gum is not the same as using high grade sandpaper orchestrated by captain and coach.

Faf deservedly gets called a cheat for the zipper incident.

This.

Even a zipper isn't that bad, that's being resourceful. But planning ahead of time and bringing a foreign object onto the field with the intention of using it to tamper with the ball is a bit much.

 

[Mamoon]

No axes to grind, people have been aware of the Aussies doing this for a long time. It doesn't help that they've tried to talk about the integirity of the game and not crossing the line only to follow up with this.

FYI, NZ rarely gets the ball to reverse. Aus get to go frequently, even in conditions where it never happens.

NZ got the ball to reverse prodigiously in the Sharjah Test in the UAE in 2014. Besides, the conditions in New Zealand do not aid reverse-swing. You produce green pitches for your swing bowlers.

 

[Aman]

NZ got the ball to reverse prodigiously in the Sharjah Test in the UAE in 2014. Besides, the conditions in New Zealand do not aid reverse-swing. You produce green pitches for your swing bowlers.

Yes, that's the point lmao. You know our wickets, they're flat after the initial swing early in the first 1-2 sessions of the Test. Aus were able to get it to reverse every time lmao. First time I've seen it happen since Boult ran through WI long back, and that was only for the last session.

That Sharjah Test was one of the rare instances.

 

[Mamoon]

Given how heated series between any two of Aus, India, Eng and SA are (maybe not Eng vs SA), do you think the home broadcaster will let the opposition get away with cheating?

Also, mint/gum is not the same as using high grade sandpaper orchestrated by captain and coach.

Faf deservedly gets called a cheat for the zipper incident.

Broadcasters do not have cameras on every player all the time. It is not possible to catch players tampering with the ball every time. Mint, gum, sandpaper, zipper, bottle cap. What does it matter?

Also, the captains are complicit. Players do not randomly decide to tamper behind their backs.

 

[Aman]

Broadcasters do not have cameras on every player all the time. It is not possible to catch players tampering with the ball every time. Mint, gum, sandpaper, zipper, bottle cap. What does it matter?

Also, the captains are complicit. Players do not randomly decide to tamper behind their backs.

They very may well be, but there is no proof of this like there is here. Smith stupidly admitted to it.

Lehmann should have taken the blame and fallen on his sword rather than getting Smith and Warner into this mess.

 

[ManFan]

Innocent until proven guilty.

Really can’t go out and start blaming teams of ball-tampering when they have not been seen.

This will be a black mark on AUS forever. Just as the allegations against ENG, SA and PAK were.

 

[90MPH]

I will agree with Mamoon here - they have been tampering like everyone here.

Only issue this time is they used a shortcut and got caught red handed.

So they should be punished rightly so. But let’s not pretend that they are the only ones that tamper with the .

 

[Mamoon]

They very may well be, but there is no proof of this like there is here. Smith stupidly admitted to it.

Lehmann should have taken the blame and fallen on his sword rather than getting Smith and Warner into this mess.

I agree. Smith said too much, and this technically could get him in trouble. Nonetheless, I do feel sorry for him to an extent. He is only doing what others have been doing before him and will do after him. He simply handled the situation poorly.

 

[IAJ]

Just want an YES or NO answer: Is it impossible to master the art of reverse swing without ball-tampering?

 

[ManFan]

Just want an YES or NO answer: Is it impossible to master the art of reverse swing without ball-tampering?

No.
Reverse swing has been around for “donkey years”. You shine one side and keep the other dry.
Perhaps you cannot do it to the extent with ball-tampering but it is certainly possible.

 

[IAJ]

No.
Reverse swing has been around for “donkey years”. You shine one side and keep the other dry.
Perhaps you cannot do it to the extent with ball-tampering but it is certainly possible.

So if a team really has mastered this art why are they called cheaters?

 

[ManFan]

So if a team really has mastered this art why are they called cheaters?

Like whom?

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

However, it would be naive to assume that our players do not do it, considering our modern legacy of playing the game against the spirit of cricket.

All teams tamper with the ball. Some get caught, some don't. There is no Saints XI in world cricket today.

What parallel universe do you live in? Our cricket team has stayed away far from controversy since the spot fixing scandal in 2010. For the past 8 years, the Pakistani team has been praised by commentators and players alike for showing good sportsmanship wherever they play and they have stayed far away from controversy for the most part under Misbah's leadership. The team under Safaraz hasn't been involved in any major cricketing scandals either. Pakistan and New Zealand are 2 teams in the past decade that have played the game with more integrity than any other teams. Any claims of them playing against the spirit of cricket are purely fictitious on your part and shows how delusional you are.

 

[fawad_wellwisher]

They very may well be, but there is no proof of this like there is here. Smith stupidly admitted to it.

Lehmann should have taken the blame and fallen on his sword rather than getting Smith and Warner into this mess.

He is the architect and should be held responsible for this fiasco that Australian team finds itself in.

 

[pillionrider]

This was posted in another thread but is probably more meaningful here. Allegedly from the Ashes

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here’s Cameron Bancroft appearing to put sugar in his pocket against England in January... <a href="https://t.co/ju6W47PECc">pic.twitter.com/ju6W47PECc</a></p>— David Coverdale (@dpcoverdale) <a href="https://twitter.com/dpcoverdale/status/977663181198974976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Oligochaetes]

We have to minutely look at their performance in the 2015 World Cup.

 

[shane]

During the tea interval today (before the Australians had admitted ball tampering but after the TV footage was shown), Graeme Smith on commentary suggested that the Australians may have been ball tampering earlier in te series. And it puts into doubt everything Australia has achieved under Steven Smith (which admittedly has not been much) and every wicket taken by Starc in particular.

 

[jeetu]

Ball doctoring is more than 40 years old. First famous incident involved John Lever who used Vaseline to get bowl to swing excessively. It was during 76-77 England tour of India.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Tampering has been going on from Sarfaraz Nawaz/IK time.. maybe even earlier.. Every team does it some get caught some don’t.. Withh so many cameras it’s becoming difficult these days not to get caught.

That is a big claim. Indians never knew tampering could swing the ball for a long timel. One reason India hardly had any pacers until Kapil arrived a self made fast bowler who never knew these under-handed tricks. By the time we knew what it was cameras started capturing.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Is the Australian team involved in a planned, premeditated, Systemic attempt to get unfair advantage

The DRS gate and the sand paper gate incidents, perhas show that Aussie team tries to get unfair advantage and they systematically plan it like other aspects of the game.

The dressing room seems to be in the know and actively involved.

When caught they try to say its a brainfade etc etc, when its apparent that it may not have been a one off incident.

Such planned attempts to get unfair advantage needs to be dealt with in a more holistic manner rather than just sanctioning a player or two.

 

[Convict]

Did you miss the other thread on this and the fact that Australians in general are calling for coach, captain and vice captain to be sacked and serve suspensions?

Or are you really that important that you need a special thread of your own to say the same thing everyone else is already saying?

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

When New Zealand ball tampered, got away with it and nearly won a test in Pakistan

Take one bottle top. Cut into quarters. Apply tape, leaving sharp point exposed. Hide in pocket. Gouge cricket ball when required.

It seems brazen, incongruous and bound to draw attention from match officials, but New Zealand's cricketers admitted doing all of the above in full view during a test in Pakistan in 1990.

In those days of no match referees they were never sanctioned for ball tampering, despite Chris Pringle generating spectacular reverse swing in an 11-wicket haul which nearly spurred New Zealand to victory in the third test of that series in Faisalabad.

Pringle and the late Martin Crowe - captain of that side - both confessed after their respective retirements, insisting Pakistan were doing it too and the local umpires turned a blind eye to both teams' actions.

It made the actions of Australian opener Cameron Bancroft in Cape Town on Saturday seem relatively mild, as television cameras caught him trying to hide a piece of tape which he later admitted was to rough up the ball to assist reverse swing.

But these days with match referees watching every move and an ICC code of conduct everyone knows the rules. The fact Australia stooped to such a level, knowing the consequences and with cameras capturing their every move, showed desperation bordering on arrogance. Even more so when captain Steve Smith admitted it was premeditated by the leadership group.

In 1990 TV coverage was scant and it was akin to cricket's wild west, with the umpires in sole control. With New Zealand 2-0 down on a tough tour of Pakistan, and exasperated by the perceived methods of the hosts to generate reverse swing, they felt there were minimal options in the third test.

He said in the second test in Lahore he picked up the ball while batting and saw deep gouges on one side. The science and aerodynamics of it is tricky to explain, but Crowe couldn't fathom how Wasim Akram bowled six outswingers, then "six lethal inswingers", no matter what his levels of bowling wizardry.

Crowe said he complained to the umpires but it fell on deaf ears, so at training for the next test the New Zealanders experimented.

Pringle, in his autobiography Save The Last Ball For Me, said the bottle top technique got instant results in the nets. "Even guys like Mark Greatbatch and Martin Crowe were swinging the ball miles in the air," he wrote.

Crowe won the toss, sent Pakistan in and they were 35-0. Then, Pringle wrote, he produced the sharp bottle top at drinks and got to work on one side. Results were spectacular and he hooped the ball about, snaring 7-52 as Pakistan were skittled for 102. It remains in the top-five New Zealand test bowling figures.

"Neither umpire showed any concern or took any notice in what we were doing even though, at the end of the innings, the ball was very scratched," Pringle wrote.

"One side was shiny but there were lots of grooves and lines and deep gouges on the other side. It was so obvious. It was ripped to shreds."

Pringle sensed the umpires could tell what was going on but didn't want to get involved in any controversy, even as he became more brazen with his gouging. He even cut his finger in the process but said the umpires didn't question how blood came to be flowing.

Pringle took 4-100 in the second innings as Pakistan set New Zealand 243 to win. Waqar Younis took five to skittle them for 171, and Akram later rubbished New Zealand that they'd gained an unfair advantage.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/crick...way-with-it-and-nearly-won-a-test-in-pakistan

 

[IndianFan2018]

That is a big claim. Indians never knew tampering could swing the ball for a long timel. One reason India hardly had any pacers until Kapil arrived a self made fast bowler who never knew these under-handed tricks. By the time we knew what it was cameras started capturing.

As per general perception...India played with thundlers and mostly won matches with superior batting.

So please, do not paint all with same brush for God Sake,...

Everyone does it.... this silly knee-jerk excuse will not work in any court of Law . If everyone eats dirt, doesn't mean you too follow the same..use commonsense

 

[Robert]

Should Australia give the Ashes back?

I mean, come on Smith.

 

[cricketjoshila]

ICC should investigate for sure.

 

[Junaids]

I am pretty sure that this is not a one-off.

This whole leadership committee thing cannot be a new idea - this was a carefully throughout and possibly well practiced method.

So how long has this been going on? Was it used when Pakistan toured Australia?

If you recall, I attended the NZ v Australia Test at Wellington two years ago.

NZ was dismissed for 180 on a Day 1 greentop.

The grass was dead by the end of that innings and Australia replied with 560 on a flat deck where the outfield was billiard table green, so no scuffing or Reverse was possible.

NZ then cruised to 180-3 before Mitch Marsh turned into Waqar Younis and started reversing the ball round corners.

Ever since, Australia has obtained highly suspicious degrees of reverse swing around the world.

I believe that you can only reverse a doctored ball. And Australia did not just start at lunchtime yesterday.

 

[Bewal Express]

If you recall, I attended the NZ v Australia Test at Wellington two years ago.

NZ was dismissed for 180 on a Day 1 greentop.

The grass was dead by the end of that innings and Australia replied with 560 on a flat deck where the outfield was billiard table green, so no scuffing or Reverse was possible.

NZ then cruised to 180-3 before Mitch Marsh turned into Waqar Younis and started reversing the ball round corners.

Ever since, Australia has obtained highly suspicious degrees of reverse swing around the world.

I believe that you can only reverse a doctored ball. And Australia did not just start at lunchtime yesterday.

Bar a few bowlers, most bowlers can only reverse a tempered ball. It has obvious that both Aus and SA have been doing it this series. The natural reverse allows the ball to tail in a little, and only few people that could do it come to mind, including Shoaib, Craig White, Malinga, you get the pic, the slingers.

 

[The Yorker]

Daryl Hair hope you are still around to watch this episode of Australian cheating. The disgraceful treatment of Inzi and his boys can never be forgotten and ball tampering has come back to break Aussies

 

[Shaan]

As long as South Africa, England, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh.

I have never seen or heard any tampering part of Bangladesh since BD started playing cricket. probably our boys should learn this art in their arsenal so they can pull out of more upsets against big teams.

 

[C.E.S]

Tampering has been going on from Sarfaraz Nawaz/IK time.. maybe even earlier.. Every team does it some get caught some don’t.. Withh so many cameras it’s becoming difficult these days not to get caught.

Tampering has nothing to do with Sarfaraz Nawaz or Imran Khan - they were the pioneers of reverse swing, a legitimate skill perfected by them and other Pakistan bowlers, not tampering.

The most well-known and publicized post-war tampering incident was John Lever's Vaseline incident, so it's been around since then.

 

[big_gamer007]

Tampering has nothing to do with Sarfaraz Nawaz or Imran Khan - they were the pioneers of reverse swing, a legitimate skill perfected by them and other Pakistan bowlers, not tampering.

The most well-known and publicized post-war tampering incident was John Lever's Vaseline incident, so it's been around since then.

IK has admitted to tampering, you would be naive to think they did not tamper.. In that era it was easy to get away with tampering as the cameras were not as big a part of the game as today..

Like I said it might be going on before that as well.. One would never know the truth about tampering. Regardless what’s done in the past cannot be changed if ICC considers tampering to be a serious issue then they should define rules and implement proper bans on anyone caught with tampering..

Next few weeks would define where ICC stands on tampering issue.

 

[Shaan]

Afridi's apple bite on cricket ball was most hilarious incident which will still remains in my mind, don't know why when come ball tampering issues this view always snap in my mind , that was quite funny sight to see.

 

[C.E.S]

We are the inventors of ball-tampering, but none of our players have been caught tampering since Afridi. However, it would be naive to assume that our players do not do it, considering our modern legacy of playing the game against the spirit of cricket.

All teams tamper with the ball. Some get caught, some don't. There is no Saints XI in world cricket today.

As I've posted earlier, the first major tampering incident was John Lever's Vaseline episode.

We're inventors of reverse swing, not tampering. Reverse swing is a completely legitimate skill that requires the hard grind of shining one side meticulously - a practice that that is ingrained in Pakistani cricketers from club cricket.

Tampering is a short-cut to achieving reverse swing, and those resorting to such short-cuts are eventually exposed - Lever, Atherton, Afridi, Du Plessis, Dravid, Martin Crowe, and many others, and now Bancroft (and the leadership group).

As for your suggestion that the culpability of the few somehow proves that everyone must be (and always has been) in on it, this must be your most illogical and embarrassing effort yet.

 

[C.E.S]

IK has admitted to tampering, you would be naive to think they did not tamper.. In that era it was easy to get away with tampering as the cameras were not as big a part of the game as today..

Like I said it might be going on before that as well.. One would never know the truth about tampering. Regardless what’s done in the past cannot be changed if ICC considers tampering to be a serious issue then they should define rules and implement proper bans on anyone caught with tampering..

Next few weeks would define where ICC stands on tampering issue.

Martin Crowe and his team have definitively admitted to tampering, that would have been an apt example of tampering incidents in the game.

Any such definitive statement from Imran Khan about his international career? At least you've acquitted Sarfaraz in the space of one post, seeing as there's no evidence he tampered - it would be pretty naïve to condemn people based on personal beliefs and hunches instead of evidence, wouldn't it?