David Richardson believes ball tampering poses threat to 'cricket's DNA'

David Richardson has said that the behaviour in the South Africa-Australia Test series, earlier this year, made it clear that the fans were disgruntled that after a few Australian players had resorted to cheating during the match.

Australian Skipper Steve Smith along with two other members of the team, Vice Captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, were caught tampering the ball using sandpaper, resulting in lengthy bans from their cricket career.

“Cricket’s DNA is based on integrity, but we have seen too much behaviour of late that puts that in jeopardy and this has to stop,” Richardson said.

“Sledging that amounts to no more than personal abuse, fielders giving send-offs to batsmen who have been dismissed, unnecessary physical contact, players threatening not to play in protest against an umpire’s decision and ball tampering. This isn’t the version of our sport that we want to project to the world."

Further, in the infamous series, Kagiso Rabada was initially banned for initiating physical contact with Smith but the decision was later reversed on appeal. There was even an off-field brawl between David Warner and South African player Quinton de Kock as well.

ICC voiced their disappointment with the acts and brought in new sanctions for oral abuse and lengthening the bans for tampering the ball. Richardson mentioned that players went as far as to be confused on the length of ball tampering permitted legally.

“They have asked if they can chew gum, wear sunscreen or drink a sugary drink. To be brutally honest, I find this a little disingenuous. The laws are simple and straightforward: do not change the condition of the ball using an artificial substance,” Richardson said.

“If you are wearing sunscreen, sucking a mint or chewing gum with the intent of using the cream or the sugary saliva on the ball you are ball-tampering. Taking the attitude that it’s always been there to some extent is a mistake. The public have spoken."

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