Cricket’s ‘DNA’ under threat from cheating, ball tampering and sledging

The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) chief executive David Richardson has called on the sport to clean up its act.

Following the ball-tampering scandal that marred Australia’s tour of South Africa earlier this year and the rise in on-field sledging, Richardson says the behaviour of some players and teams is putting the sport’s reputation in “jeopardy”.

Delivering the 2018 MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture at Lord’s yesterday, Richardson said: “Cricket’s DNA is based on integrity. But we have seen too much behaviour of late that puts that in jeopardy and this has to stop.

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“Sledging that amounts to no more than personal abuse, fielders giving send-offs to batsmen who have been dismissed, unnecessary physical contact, players threatening not to play in protest against an umpire’s decision and ball tampering.

“This isn’t the version of our game that we want to project to the world.”

During the third Test in Cape Town in March the Australia team shamed the sport by using sandpaper on the ball. Captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft all received bans.