ICC should legalise ball tampering: Donald | Cricket - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

ICC should legalise ball tampering: Donald

PTI | By, Durban
Jul 25, 2009 04:13 PM IST

Former South Africa speedster Allan Donald feels the International Cricket Council should legalise ball tampering to prevent the growing hegemony of batsmen in world cricket. However, the 42-year-old, currently the coach of Warwickshire where he had served with distinction as a player, is aware his plea would have very little effect.

Former South Africa speedster Allan Donald feels the International Cricket Council should legalise ball tampering to prevent the growing hegemony of batsmen in world cricket.

HT Image
HT Image

"The ICC would shoot me for saying it but, with the wickets that we play on and the dying breed fast bowlers are becoming on these flatter wickets, I would say we do need some sort of defence mechanism, something to fall back on to say 'Right, we can do this. We can now prepare this ball to go'," Donald told 'Cricinfo'.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

However, the 42-year-old, currently the coach of Warwickshire where he had served with distinction as a player, is aware his plea would have very little effect.

"That (legalising ball-tampering) quite simply would never happen," he said.

Ball tampering raised quite a storm during Donald's time and the pacer conceded that bowlers did it to get reverse swing.

"There is no doubt guys tampered with the ball," he said of the fast bowlers of his time.

Donald is not the first one to champion the cause of ball tampering. In the mid-1990s, Sir Richard Hadlee too had advocated legalising ball tampering.

"As long as the bowlers or fielders use whatever means they have on their persons, I don't see anything wrong with it. I'm talking about the use of a finger nail to scratch the ball, not bottle tops or those sorts of things," Hadlee had written in a newspaper column at that time.

Talking about reverse swing, Donald said the best method was to let the ball rip without artificial help.

"I wouldn't bite it," he said.

"One way is if the ball gets scuffed on one side, and there is a tiny little chunk that is missing, you pick it up and just keep that side dry and keep working on it, while shining the other side very heavily without putting any moisture.

"The whole team needs to keep track of this and should know the ball is reversing and they need to shine one side. The bowler, because he is bowling, should keep his wet hands on this side while keeping the other side dry. That's all you need."

Stay updated with the latest Cricket News, IPL Live Scores, and exclusive insights on the RR vs DC Live Score, IPL 2024 Schedule, match highlights, and more. Explore comprehensive Cricket Schedule, track the race for the Purple Cap and Orange Cap in IPL 2024, and stay ahead with all the cricket-related updates on the Hindustan Times Website and Apps.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On