England seamer Chris Woakes urges cricket chiefs to clear up rules on ball-tampering following Faf du Plessis row
England seamer Chris Woakes has called on cricket chiefs to eliminate ambiguity in the rules following the ball-tampering conviction of South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis.
Du Plessis was fined after being found guilty of using the residue of a sweet he was eating to alter the condition of the ball during the second Test against Australia earlier this month.
The Proteas captain insists he has been scapegoated by the International Cricket Council and Woakes, who says England players often eat sweets during matches, believes a worrying precedent has been set.
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“If you are seen putting a sweet on to the ball, I think that obviously is against the rules. But everything else seems to be a little bit of a grey area,” he said, ahead of tomorrow’s third Test in India.
“[South Africa’s] Hashim Amla said about him having chewing gum in his mouth pretty much all day. Is that deemed as cheating? I’m not sure. I think it needs to be clarified exactly what the problem is.
“We haven’t been told off for it or banned or fined so we’ll continue to do exactly what we’ve done in the past.
"Occasionally at drinks breaks, the guys will come and have sweets or mints, just to freshen up and keep the energy going.
"Nothing from the sweet is allowed to go on the ball, or is supposed to, so we don’t do that.”
Woakes is in contention for a recall as England look to level the five-match series in Mohali on Saturday.
He could come in for Stuart Broad, who did not train on Thursday due to a tendon strain, while veteran off-spinner Gareth Batty is in line to replace Zafar Ansari, who is also an injury concern, and struggling batsman Ben Duckett is tipped to make way for Jos Buttler.
Du Plessis, meanwhile, answered boos from Australian spectators with a timely 118 not out on day one of the third and final Test in Adelaide.
The tourists, who have already secured victory in the series, declared on 259-9. Australia were 14-0 at stumps in the day-night clash.