What counts as ball tampering, what's legal, and how the ICC penalizes it — cricket's most controversial grey area.
The Law
Ball tampering is governed by Law 41.3 of the Laws of Cricket and is classified as a Level 2 offence under the ICC Code of Conduct. It covers any deliberate action to change the condition of the ball through artificial means.
Legal Ball Maintenance
Players ARE allowed to: - Polish the ball on their clothing - Use sweat to shine one side of the ball - Dry a wet ball with a towel (with umpire's permission) - Allow the ball to deteriorate naturally through normal use
Players are NOT allowed to: - Use saliva (banned permanently since 2022) - Apply artificial substances (sandpaper, wax, lip balm, sunscreen, mints) - Scratch or pick at the ball's surface or seam - Bite the ball - Use fingernails to gouge the ball - Use clothing zippers or studs to rough up the ball
Penalties
When ball tampering is detected: 1. 5 penalty runs awarded to the batting team 2. The ball is changed 3. The player is reported for a Level 2 Code of Conduct breach 4. Fine of 50-100% of match fee 5. 3 demerit points 6. Possible match suspension
Individual cricket boards can impose additional, harsher penalties — as Cricket Australia did during Sandpapergate.
Related Articles
Sandpapergate: The Complete Story
The full story of Australia's ball tampering scandal in Cape Town 2018 — from the plan to the tears to the aftermath.
History of Ball Tampering in Cricket
From Atherton's dirt to Afridi's teeth — a comprehensive history of ball tampering incidents in cricket.
COVID and the Saliva Ban
How the pandemic permanently changed cricket's ball maintenance rules — saliva was banned as a COVID precaution and never came back.