From 'dirt in the pocket' to 'Sandpaper Gate': A look at two of Cricket's biggest ball-tampering scandals 

World cricket has been rocked by yet another scandal that has brought blemish on both the integrity and the spirit in which the game should be played. The practice of ball tampering has been rampant in cricket, from Faf du Plessis using mint to Shahid Afridi biting the ball like an apple. Over the years, cricketers have resorted to a plethora of antics to illegitimately alter the playing condition of the ball.

Here, we'll first dive into the realms as to what ball tampering really means, its inception, and the two scandals that brought blemish to the sanctity of this beautiful game.

So, what exactly is ball tampering?

Ball tampering is a practice where a fielder indulges in the use of a foreign/artificial substance in a bid to change the aerodynamics of the ball.

Afridi bites the ball like an apple

As per the Law 41.3 of the Laws of Cricket, a fielder can make use of the towel to rub the bowl in case it has got wet, and have mud removed under supervision. These aside, all other action employed to alter the condition of the ball is deemed illegal and against the spirit of cricket.

Here's a look at the first major furore and the succeeding two incidents where the captain's brought disrepute to the game of Cricket:

#3 The Inception

When it all started

Cricket has had a tumultuous relationship with ball tampering that dates back to the early 90s. Back then, no issue was more emotive than ball tampering, threatening to shatter the sanctity of this beautiful game. Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram made heads turn during some of their unplayable spells in Pakistan's tour of England in the summer of 1992.

The series was being played in the aftermath of the World Cup final where Wasim Akram, in an inspired spell of reverse-swing bowling, bamboozled the English middle-order. Reverse swing was a hitherto concept back then. It was the Pakistani bowlers, engineered by Imran Khan, who shed light on the concept that was obscure to the cricketing fraternity.

While there was the intrigue, there was also an element of doubt among the purists of the possible miscreant. It all came to a head during the five-match series when Waqar and Wasim affected a scintillating collapse of English batting from a position of strength.

Doubts were cast by the English media and the players alike of the possible malice, and although nothing was ever proved, it brought two proud cricketing nations at loggerheads, both waiting for the series to get over.

#2 The 'Dirt in the pocket saga'

The 'dirt in the pocket' affair

When: England vs South Africa, Lords, 1994

While the English team were casting doubts on the possible malice of Pakistani bowlers getting prodigious reverse-swing back in 1992, two years later, they found their captain at the centre of a massive 'dirt in the pocket' saga at the Mecca of cricket, Lords.

It was the summer of 1994. South Africa had just returned from a 29-year exile and was touring the English isles for the first time since readmission. England was bowled out for 180 in reply to South Africa's 357.

With the match slipping away, it was just before tea on the third day when English skipper, 25-year old Michael Atherton decided to alter the aerodynamics of the bowl by slipping in some 'dirt' from his pocket. The British tabloid reacted in frenzy over the video footage and soon a massive furore ensued.

Atherton addresses the media

Atherton recorded the proceedings of the incident to the English management of using the dirt in a bid to keep his hands and the ball dry three-four times, clearly a violation of Law 42.5, which states that no one shall rub the ball on the ground or use any artificial substance to alter the condition of the ball.

However, it was not the story that Atherton told the match referee, Peter Burge. When summoned by Burge, Atherton panicked and claimed to have the dust only to dry his sweaty hands. Atherton was fined 2,000 pounds- half for illegitimately using dust and the other half for lying to the match referee.

#1 Sandpaper Gate- The Pre-Meditated affair

Cameron Bancroft caught ball tampering

When: Australia vs South Africa, Newlands, 2018

Things took a devastating turn when Australia's opener Cameron Bancroft was caught on the camera whilst trying to apply a foreign substance to the ball in a bid to collect soil granules from the abrasive side of the pitch.

The display of the damning footage on the big screen caused panic in the Aussie dressing room and the sub-fielder Peter Handscomb was flown into a frenzy by a seemingly shocked Darren Lehman to alert Bancroft. Bancroft spunged the paper under his trousers and that was caught by the camera as well.

Cameron, who was charged with a Level-2 offence under the ICC code of conduct, admitted to the allegations in the post-match conference. However, things took a turn when Steve Smith admitted that the leadership group was aware of it when questioned about his role in the incident.

The way Smith admitted to the allegations clearly showed his ignorance towards the magnanimity of the scandal, it simply beggared belief. And the Aussie reputation of raising fingers on the opposition about the spirit and integrity of the game whilst assuming themselves as the paragon of the game has done no good either.

The wheels have started to fall off with Smith reprimanded with a one-match suspension and cent percent of his match fee, but it threatens to masquerade to disastrous proportion with Cricket Australia investigating into the matter following a furore from the Australian Prime Minister.