Which Ball Tampering is the Worst?

[Line and Length]

Over the years there have been various forms of ball tampering.
There has been two forms of actually damaging the ball - sandpaper and bottle tops being the forms of damage using foreign objects. There has also been what might be called 'man made' damage by seam picking and even biting.
The other form of tampering has been what might be called adding to the ball - sweat, saliva and saliva with mints being examples.
The sanctions given after 'sandpapergate' appear overly severe when compared with other tampering cases. Is it so obviously that much more of a 'crime' than others or is it the worst case of ball tampering?

 

[CricAddict]

 

[Prince EWS]

The sanctions given after 'sandpapergate' appear overly severe when compared with other tampering cases. Is it so obviously that much more of a 'crime' than others or is it the worst case of ball tampering?

They were more severe because they were self-inflicted. The ICC punishment was much more in line with the other examples.

I do think taking a foreign object out there to damage the ball is worse than just picking at the seam though, yeah.

I'm not sure the Murray Mints thing was even actually ball tampering at all, at least not at the time. They've changed the rules to clear up the ambiguity and make it clear it's not allowed now, but it was a grey area at the time. They weren't hiding the fact that they were eating mints.

 

[Line and Length]

They were more severe because they were self-inflicted. The ICC punishment was much more in line with the other examples.

I do think taking a foreign object out there to damage the ball is worse than just picking at the seam though, yeah.

I'm not sure the Murray Mints thing was even actually ball tampering at all, at least not at the time. They've changed the rules to clear up the ambiguity and make it clear it's not allowed now, but it was a grey area at the time. They weren't hiding the fact that they were eating mints.

I fully agree with that.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Laws or not, murray mints. Cheating poms

 

[subshakerz]

Is scratching with a fingernail worse than lifting the seam? Why?

 

[Molehill]

They were more severe because they were self-inflicted. The ICC punishment was much more in line with the other examples.

I do think taking a foreign object out there to damage the ball is worse than just picking at the seam though, yeah.

I'm not sure the Murray Mints thing was even actually ball tampering at all, at least not at the time. They've changed the rules to clear up the ambiguity and make it clear it's not allowed now, but it was a grey area at the time. They weren't hiding the fact that they were eating mints.

A fair summary and I think that's the key point. One is a pre-meditated act, the other normally borne out of frustration.

 

[Shady Slim]

They were more severe because they were self-inflicted. The ICC punishment was much more in line with the other examples.

I do think taking a foreign object out there to damage the ball is worse than just picking at the seam though, yeah.

I'm not sure the Murray Mints thing was even actually ball tampering at all, at least not at the time. They've changed the rules to clear up the ambiguity and make it clear it's not allowed now, but it was a grey area at the time. They weren't hiding the fact that they were eating mints.

110%
but i also think the sandpapergate bans were entirely justified which most don't

 

[Howe_zat]

taking a foreign object out there to damage the ball

interesting description of picking KP

 

[trundler]

interesting description of picking KP

Wish PEWS had said tool instead of object

 

[GIMH]

Wasn’t the saliva rule change only because of Covid anyway?

Taking an object onto the pitch to rough up the ball is outright cheating. The bans were too short and it’s laughable that any of the results from the preceding years have been allowed to stand.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Legalise tampering but you can only pick one of the following objects to use before each innings.

- a jar of mustard
- handful of pumice
- a hedgehog
- contents of the toilet in the umpire's room that morning

 

[honestbharani]

Legalise tampering but you can only pick one of the following objects to use before each innings.

- a jar of mustard
- handful of pumice
- a hedgehog
- contents of the toilet in the umpire's room that morning

KP should have made the list.