How Serious Is Ball Tampering In Cricket?

[Garaman]

From the reaction to the Australian team’s tampering you would assume that it is a serious offence. However, according to the ICC Cricket Code of Conduct it is only a Level 2 offence. That puts it in the same category as obstruction and swearing at another player, and you wouldn’t see a captain resigning his post for either of those.

I am not condoning it, btw, just questioning whether there is an overreaction, or whether the offence should be raised to a different level in the code.

[dannyk13]

Whichever way you look at it, it is cheating.

[aelmpvw]

don't think they had time to tamper with the ball in the latest england nz test first innings

[Garaman]

Yes, it is cheating whichever way you look at it, as is obstruction which is in the same category of cheating according to the laws of cricket. The question I am asking is whether the offence in this case should be made a more serious offence, which would then justify the reaction.

[Metaphysicalus]

It is just not Cricket, QED!

[dannyk13]

In this case it should be viewed as more serious. The man had a piece of what appeared to be plastic which he used to pick up the seam.This is more serious than the usual rubbing of the ball on the ground etc.IMO

[goodgoalie]

I think it is very serious, as the player did it with the knowledge and collusion of the team captain. I don't see how Smith can ever captain Australia again.

[MargoTester]

What I think is awful is the fact that the senior members of the team gave 'the job' to a new member of team.

[seekeerz]

As an aussie who loves cricket ....I'm appalled !!

[MWG14]

As a Pommie who loves cricket, I too am appalled.

[seekeerz]

And I'm ashamed !! The Aust. Team is very quick to raise the aspect of ball tampering if they think another team has erred ....peppermints spring to mind .... How did they think they'd get away with it !!

[DTCwordfan]

Disgraceful and the grace part would be turning in his grave at the prospect of someone doing this - and what were they thinking as it was more than evident on the camera.....surely there wasn't a bet on this happening, or was there?

[aelmpvw]

it must be really serious if the aussie pm feels the need to make a statement on the issue

[woofgang]

who was it had a bottlecap in his pocket a few years ago now?

[dannyk13]

Don't know Woofie, but Mike Atherton was fined for having dirt in his pocket to rub on the ball.

[Spungle]

It's not all that serious as an offence as such. What is serious of course is the reputation of the national team, and the fact that the cameras and commentators picked up on it leave them with little option, to save face.

[MargoTester]

Woolfie it was Chris Pringle - New Zealand

[Garaman]

England players were exonerated in this case, but I am not convinced they should have been.

[dannyk13]

Spungle // It's not all that serious as an offence as such//
As far as ball tampering goes, you cannot get any more serious than carrying a device to raise the seam.

[Garaman]

However you tamper with the ball, as Spungy rightly says, it isn't that serious an offence under the laws of cricket. Hence the question, should it be made a more serious offence, or are people overreacting to it?

[dannyk13]

See my post at 12.12