Ball-tampering scandal: Cricket's Cheats XI

Cricket has a long sad history of cheaters in the game. The Herald lists the sport's Cheats XI. A list of players who you probably wouldn't trust in the field.

Michael Atherton (England) - Ball tampering
The England skipper was fined 2000 pounds following accusations of ball tampering in a 1994 test against South Africa. Atherton had dirt in his pocket which he claimed he used to dry his hands, however TV cameras caught him rubbing some dirt on the ball. He was fined for not disclosing the dirt to the umpires.

Cameron Bancroft (Australia) - Ball tampering
The fall man for the brazen Australian ploy to get an edge over South Africa in Cape Town. "We had a discussion during the (lunch) break and I saw an opportunity to use some tape, get some granules from the rough patches on the wickets and change the condition — it didn't work, the umpires didn't change the ball," Bancroft admitted. Bancroft was fined 75 percent of his match fee.

Steve Smith (Australia) - Ball tampering
The 'brains' of the operation. Smith admitted that it was decided by the senior leadership group to tamper with the ball in Cape Town, despite the increased number of TV cameras placed around the ground. He has been handed a one-match ban and loses 100 percent of his match fee. He faces further sanctions following a Cricket Australia investigation.

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Faf du Plessis (South Africa) - Ball tampering
Du Plessis has been fined twice for ball tampering during his career. The first incident occurred in 2013 against Pakistan when he was rubbed the ball against the zip on his trousers. He was fined 50 percent of his match fee. Three years later he was fined 100 percent of his match fee after rubbing the ball with a mint.

Salman Butt (Pakistan) - Match fixing
Obviously a much higher degree of cheating than the ball tamperers on this list. Butt was sent to jail in 2011 for spot-fixing in a test against England following a News of the World sting. Butt and teammate Mohammad Asif were found guilty by a London court on criminal charges relating to spot-fixing after Asif and fellow bowler Mohammad Amir bowled no balls during a test at Lord's.

Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa) - Match fixing
Officially a 'match fixer' but no a very good one. Gibbs was involved in the match fixing affair with former captain Hansie Cronje. Cronje allegedly offered his teammate $15,000 to score "less than 20" in an ODI. Gibbs went onto make 74. After admitting to involvement with Cronje, Gibbs was banned for six months.

Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) - Ball biting
Afridi's act is probably the most brazen. Some players use an aid like dirt or a bottle cap to tamper with the ball, Afridi just used his teeth. The all-rounder was captain of the side during the 2010 series against Australia and was caught on camera taking a bite out of the ball, attempting to readjust the seam. The reportedly told a publication that he was trying to smell the ball and plead guilty. He was handed a two T20 match ban.

Rashid Latif (Pakistan) - Claiming a dropped catch
There are some catches that as a fielder you can't tell whether you caught it clean or not. Fair enough. It happens. But Latif claimed a wicket in a 2003 test against Bangladesh after the ball clearly hit the ground. Had he completed the catch already? You be the judge. He was banned five ODIs and admitted to claiming the catch as Pakistan went onto win by a wicket.

Mohammad Amir (Pakistan) Spot fixing
Amir was given a five year ban for allegedly bowling two deliberate no-balls in the Lord's test in 2010. Only 22 at the time he pleaded guilty. He successfully returned to international cricket in 2016 and toured New Zealand that year.

Mohammad Asif (Pakistan) Spot fixing
Asif was banned for seven years and given a one-year prison sentence for his role in the 2010 match-fixing scandal. He didn't play against for his country.

Vernon Philander (South Africa) - Ball tampering
The South African fast bowler was caught on cameras using his fingers and thumb to scratch the ball against Sri Lanka. He admitted to it and was fined 75 per cent of his match fee.