Melbourne — Faf du Plessis was charged with ball-tampering shortly after Hashim Amla mounted an impassioned defence of South Africa’s captain in Melbourne on Friday. During the second Test against Australia in Hobart‚ television cameras spotted Du Plessis polishing the ball using a finger taken from his mouth — in which an object that might have been a sweet was visible. Law 42.3 states that the ball may be polished “provided that no artificial substance is used”. Although illegal‚ applying sugar-soaked saliva to a ball is a tactic used to make its shine last longer. An International Cricket Council (ICC) release said Du Plessis had pleaded not guilty and that the case would be heard by match referee Andy Pycroft. “The alleged incident happened on Tuesday morning when TV footage appeared to show Du Plessis applying saliva and residue from a mint or sweet‚ an artificial substance‚ to the ball in an attempt to change its condition‚” the release said. As a level two offence‚ Du Plessis...
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