Ball-tampering is one of the most emotive and controversial issues in Test cricket, especially when accusations involve Pakistan.
When umpire Darrell Hair awarded England five penalty runs for Pakistan violating law 42.3 for deliberately altering the condition of the ball during the fourth Test at The Oval, the Australian official provoked a huge Pakistani backlash.
Ball tampering is tantamount to cheating, everything that contravenes the spirit of this most gentlemanly of sports.
Unfortunately these accusations are nothing new to Pakistani cricket.
The slur has tainted the nation since all-rounder Imran Khan first extracted exaggerated late movement with the older ball during the 1970s.
BBC Sport examines the stigma of ball tampering.
When umpire Darrell Hair awarded England five penalty runs for Pakistan violating law 42.3 for deliberately altering the condition of the ball during the fourth Test at The Oval, the Australian official provoked a huge Pakistani backlash.
Ball tampering is tantamount to cheating, everything that contravenes the spirit of this most gentlemanly of sports.
Unfortunately these accusations are nothing new to Pakistani cricket.
The slur has tainted the nation since all-rounder Imran Khan first extracted exaggerated late movement with the older ball during the 1970s.
BBC Sport examines the stigma of ball tampering.
HOW DOES BALL TAMPERING FAVOUR BOWLERS?
Bowlers shine one side of a new cricket ball while the opposite is left to deteriorate through natural wear and tear.
This process helps bowlers swing the ball in the air.
In simple terms, the aerodynamics of bowling mean the shiny side travels faster through the air, while the rough side acts as a brake, pushing the ball in the direction of the rough side.
But as the ball loses its early shine, it begins to swing less and it is not until it gets older and rougher that it begins to deviate again, a process known as reverse swing.
Bowlers shine one side of a new cricket ball while the opposite is left to deteriorate through natural wear and tear.
This process helps bowlers swing the ball in the air.
In simple terms, the aerodynamics of bowling mean the shiny side travels faster through the air, while the rough side acts as a brake, pushing the ball in the direction of the rough side.
But as the ball loses its early shine, it begins to swing less and it is not until it gets older and rougher that it begins to deviate again, a process known as reverse swing.
"As the ball becomes rougher, it will take on a different characteristic as it deteriorates," said former England fast bowling coach Troy Cooley, who helped England's bowlers use the phenomenon to great success during the 2005 Ashes series.
"So if you present the ball as an outswinger, the ball has deteriorated so much on the rough side that it takes on the characteristics of the shiny side.
"Which means a natural outswinger will become an inswinger and conversely, an inswinger an outswinger."
LAW 42.3c (FAIR AND UNFAIR PLAY):
It is unfair for anyone to rub the ball on the ground for any reason, interfere with any of the seams or the surface of the ball, use any implement, or take any other action whatsoever which is likely to alter the condition of the ball
The laws of the game clearly state fielders can polish, clean or dry the ball, but nothing more.
The batsmen, pitch and outfield all contribute to the natural wear and tear of the ball, which usually starts to reverse swing around the 40- to 50-over mark during a Test match.
However, the earlier the ball starts to reverse swing, the more problems it poses for the batsmen.
It is unfair for anyone to rub the ball on the ground for any reason, interfere with any of the seams or the surface of the ball, use any implement, or take any other action whatsoever which is likely to alter the condition of the ball
The laws of the game clearly state fielders can polish, clean or dry the ball, but nothing more.
The batsmen, pitch and outfield all contribute to the natural wear and tear of the ball, which usually starts to reverse swing around the 40- to 50-over mark during a Test match.
However, the earlier the ball starts to reverse swing, the more problems it poses for the batsmen.
Bowlers can facilitate the deterioration by manipulating the condition of the ball illegally.
The seam, which acts as the ball's rudder when it swings, can be picked with fingernails.
The nails can also help to further scuff the rough side of the ball.
The seam, which acts as the ball's rudder when it swings, can be picked with fingernails.
The nails can also help to further scuff the rough side of the ball.
Read more here (no you won't).
2 comments:
Other than the ridiculous verbiage this article could have been written by Gaylord Perry.
This is just silly.
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