London:That\u2019s the upshot of a decision by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) world cricket committee to recommend not changing the laws on the illegal but widespread practice of using artificial aids – sugar is a prime suspect – to help the ball retain its shine.
\n\u201cThe world cricket committee believes that no changes should be made to law 42.3(a): the match ball \u2013 changing its condition\u201a\u201d the MCC said in a release on Wednesday that followed a two-day meeting in Mumbai.
\nThe MCC are the custodians of cricket\u2019s laws and are due to present a revised version in time for implementation on October 1 next year.
\nThe ball-tampering issue hit the headlines in Australia last month when South African captain Faf du Plessis made the mistake of allowing television cameras to pick up a mint in his mouth as he wet his fingers to work on the ball.
\nPossible Du Plessis ban could ease selectors’ De Villiers headache
\nHe was found guilty\u201a fined and docked three demerit points.
\nBut there was plenty of empathy and support for Du Plessis\u201a including from Australian captain Steve Smith\u201a who said\u201a \u201cWe along with every other team around the world shine the ball the same way.\u201d
\nThat didn\u2019t cut much ice with the MCC.
\n\u201cThe recent incident involving Faf du Plessis brought this law into focus but MCC\u2019s position \u2013 supported by the world cricket committee \u2013 is that the law is clear\u201a and to try to be too prescriptive by listing banned substances would be counterproductive\u201a as something will be missed in the process of such drafting.\u201d
\nFaf du Plessis could miss first test against Sri Lanka
\nDu Plessis\u2019 appeal will be heard on December 19\u201a and if his bid fails and he is given a fourth demerit point he will be banned for the first test against Sri Lanka in Port Elizabeth on December 26.
\nOther decisions taken at the Mumbai meeting were that the edges of bats should measure no more than 40mm and their depths limited to 67mm\u201a and that players should face being sent off for \u201cthreatening an umpire; physically assaulting another player\u201a umpire\u201a official or spectator; any other act of violence on the field of play\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
London:That\u2019s the upshot of a decision by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) world cricket committee to recommend not changing the laws on the illegal but widespread practice of using artificial aids – sugar is a prime suspect – to help the ball retain its shine. \u201cThe world cricket committee believes that no changes should be made […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-7650","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n