'Let people scratch the ball': England cricketer calls to 'legalise' ball tampering

Q: What did Dawid Malan suggest about ball tampering in cricket?

Dawid Malan suggested legalizing a limited form of ball tampering to improve the balance between batters and bowlers in cricket.

Q: Why does Malan believe ball tampering should be regulated?

Malan believes ball tampering has always been part of the game and that regulating it would acknowledge its existence while promoting fairness.

Q: How has the debate around ball tampering evolved in cricket?

The debate around ball tampering has evolved as players like Malan argue for regulation instead of outright bans, highlighting its historical presence in the sport.

'Let people scratch the ball': England cricketer calls to 'legalise' ball tampering

TL;DR

England cricketer Dawid Malan has proposed legalizing a controlled form of ball tampering in cricket to create a better balance between batters and bowlers. He argues that tampering has always existed and should be regulated rather than banned outright.

NEW DELHI: England cricketer Dawid Malan has sparked a fresh debate with a bold suggestion: allow a limited, controlled form of ball tampering in cricket.

His idea isn’t about breaking rules completely, but about tweaking them to make the game more balanced between bat and ball—especially in modern formats where batters dominate.

Speaking on BBC’s Strategic Timeout podcast, Malan pointed out that ball tampering has always existed in some form. He believes that instead of pretending it doesn’t happen, the sport should regulate it properly.

“Historically, over the game, people have been caught trying to tamper with the ball for years. You know it’s not a new thing. I actually think you should legalise it, like just let people scratch the ball," Malan said.

At the same time, he clarified that there should be limits, adding, “Obviously, do not bring things in from outside. But, it’s a skill in itself — to get the ball to reverse swing."

Malan’s main concern is how difficult it has become for bowlers, particularly in the final overs of a match. Reverse swing, once a key weapon, has become rare due to strict rules, frequent ball changes, and pitch conditions that favour batters.

He believes allowing slight, controlled alterations to the ball could bring reverse swing back into play. This, in turn, would make matches more competitive toward the end.

“I think it would make cricket a lot more bowler-friendly towards the end, if you can get the ball reversing," he explained.

“I think it would make games tighter towards the end, and it wouldn’t just be winning with six wickets in hand."

For Malan, this isn’t a wild idea but a practical adjustment to match how the game has evolved. With batters becoming more skilled and aggressive, bowlers need new ways to compete.

He summed it up by saying, “Batters are so skilled now, that if you can get any tactical advantage with the ball, shaping it a little bit, reverse swinging it, you want to do what you can to do that."

“If you can get the ball to move, it makes such a difference at the death — the hardest overs to bowl," he said.

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