![]() There have been a number of high-profile instances of alleged ball tampering, particularly in international cricket due to the increase in television coverage. Modifying the quarter seam can be particularly difficult to detect or prove. Picking at the threads of the main seam or 'lifting' the quarter seam to aid conventional and reverse swing respectively are also illegal. Some commentators have suggested that this form of undetected ball tampering may be common. Substances which have been used for this purpose include hair gel, sugar from sweets, and lip balm. It's unclear if this rule will ever be reverted, players are now using other legal ways to shine the ball such as sweat. But due to the COVID-19 Pandemic this has now been banned for obvious reasons. Saliva used to be used commonly to add shine to the ball. The use of foreign substances to polish the ball is illegal, but may be difficult to detect by the umpires. The captain may also be penalised, if he is also responsible for the conduct of his players on the field. Following the conclusion of play, additional sanctions are usually brought against a ball tamperer, as it is considered a serious offence. If a bowler is found to be guilty of repeated ball tampering he can be prohibited from continuing to bowl in that innings. Depending on additional agreements laid out before the beginning of a series of matches, the team may instead be permitted to choose the ball from a selection of balls in various stages of use. The replacement ball is chosen by the umpires, and should match the condition of the previous ball (before tampering) as closely as possible. Where an umpire has deemed a player to be guilty of ball tampering (the Laws refer to unfairly changing the condition of the ball), five penalty runs are awarded to the other side, and, if desired by the opposing captain, the ball is immediately replaced. The umpires are responsible for monitoring the condition of the ball, and must inspect it regularly. Also, it is common for fielders to rub the ball against their clothing to dry or polish it, as seen in most cricket matches. When bowled correctly, a bowler can get the ball to move from one side to the other through the air. ![]() The moisture gained from spit or sweat when combined with polishing, smooths out one half of the ball which in turn allows air to pass over one side of the ball more quickly than over the other. ![]() Using spit and/or sweat is common and, for practitioners of swing bowling, integral (made illegal due to the COVID 19 pandemic). Conversely, roughening one side of the ball by use of an abrasive or cutting surface (such as boot spikes or bottle caps or sandpaper) is also ball tampering. ![]() Examples of ball tampering would include a fielder applying a substance, such as lip balm or sweetened saliva, to shine one side of the ball or pick the seam of the ball to encourage more swing. Generally, the purpose of altering the state of the ball is to achieve more favourable bowling conditions. These are usually taken to include rubbing the ball on the ground, scuffing with a fingernail or other sharp object, or tampering with the seam of the ball. Under Law 41, subsection 3 of the Laws of Cricket, the ball may be polished without the use of an artificial substance, may be dried with a towel if it is wet, and have mud removed from it under supervision all other actions which alter the condition of the ball are illegal.
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