'Ball Tampering?': England Players Seen Scuffing The Ball, Stuart Broad Defends

ENG v IND: Videos and pictures of England players scuffing the surface of the ball on the fourth day of the second Test between India and England have flooded the internet on Sunday evening with fans and ex-cricketers accusing the England players of ball-tampering.

Several pictures of England players scuffing the ball with their spikes on the fourth day of Lord's Test have surfaced. The alleged incident seems to have happened during the second session on the fourth day as Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane held the Indian innings together.

Videos and photos showed the players rolling the ball and one of them stamping on it with his spikes.

Was tat the attempt of Ball Tampering
Don’t do that England @BCCI @imVkohli #ENGvsIND @SGanguly99 @bhogleharsha pic.twitter.com/3Vu1MNfbSb

— Kishore Rao (@kishore8901) August 15, 2021

The matter did not go down well with former Indian cricketers and fans as they alleged that the players were tampering with the ball.

Yeh kya ho raha hai.
Is it ball tampering by Eng ya covid preventive measures pic.twitter.com/RcL4I2VJsC

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 15, 2021

Cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra also tweeted,

Ball tampering, eh? #EngvInd

— Wear a Mask. Stay Safe, India (@cricketaakash) August 15, 2021

However, England bowler Stuart Broad, who was ruled out of the India series due to injury before the Lord's test, defended his teammates saying: 

My comments are- Woody tried to nut meg Burnsy by tapping the ball through his legs (a very common occurrence) & he missed and kicked the ball there by accident. Instead of screenshotting the pic, watch the video- quite plain & easy to see

— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) August 15, 2021

The incident seems to be a clear violation of the ICC ball-tampering rules which does not allow the players to scuff the ball with their spikes.

With the videos and pictures clearly showing the players deliberately trying to change the condition of the ball and considering the reaction from the Indian fans, the ICC will surely have to come out with a statement as it is a serious matter.

ICC has taken ball-tampering very seriously in recent times.

In 2018, then Australia captain Steve Smith, opener David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were charged with ball-tampering when videos emerged, showing Bancroft rubbing the ball with sandpaper during Day 3 of the third Test against South Africa at Newlands Stadium.

Though ICC suspended Smith for one Test and fined Bancroft heavily, Cricket Australia suspended them from all forms of cricket. Smith and Warner were suspended for a year.

Fans expect the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to take strict action against the players involved.