Australia clamps down on reverse

MELBOURNE, Tuesday - With reverse swing en vogue once again, Cricket Australia (CA) has sent an email to umpires asking strict action to be taken against players who tamper with the ball in order to find some reverse swing.

According to a report in The Courier Mail, the communication was sent to all state chief executives and coaching staff as well as umpires and strongly reinforces the laws that govern ball tampering as well as offering tips to prevent bowlers from resorting to tampering in the first place.

Although the email has come in the wake of the Ashes, a series in which England's ability to reverse swing proved so pivotal, Geoff Allardice, CA umpires' spokesman, denied the directive was the result of the Ashes loss. "The main purpose in sending the email is to create consistency with decisions right across the country."

While the email doesn't suggest any illegality on the part of England's bowlers, it makes clear that there are still a lot of grey areas surrounding the practice. As such, acts like loading one side of the ball with saliva - thought to be crucial in gaining reverse swing - is legal, but changing the condition of the ball is not, so it must be polished immediately after the saliva is applied.

The email goes on to argue that "natural" deterioration of the ball is acceptable but that the artificial enhancement of it is in breach of present laws. "Polishing of the ball is clearly allowed, but the use of artificial substances such as sunscreen, is not.

"The deterioration cannot be assisted by actions outside the normal processes of the match, such as bouncing the ball around the field or bouncing the ball on roughened areas adjacent to the pitch or in the outfield. "These actions are designed to speed up the deterioration of the ball and are not allowed. Umpires will be required to make frequent and irregular inspections of the ball as provided for in the law."

Umpires have also been reminded to keep an eye on fielders deliberately throwing the ball into a hard wicket block to speed up the wearing of one side. Officials who discover such practices have been urged to replace the ball, fine the bowling team five runs and report the matter to CA.

Meanwhile, Andrew Flintoff, one of the prime practitioners of the art, remained unperturbed when asked whether Sydney - the venue for the Super Series Test - would aid reverse swing.

"If it reverse swings, great. It's one thing we use quite effectively in England. If it doesn't, so be it. We will have to use conventional swing. "It added an extra dimension to all of us in the Ashes."

[Cricinfo]