Australia caught up in ball tampering suspicion during South Africa Test

Australia could find themselves in hot water after footage during day three of the third Test against South Africa appeared to show Cameron Bancroft using a foreign object on the ball.

Bancroft was seen trying to rough up one side of the ball with a small piece of yellow material taken from his right hip pocket.

Slow-motion replays, both on TV and broadcast on the big screen at Newlands in Cape Town, appeared to show Bancroft then putting the small object into his underwear in an apparent attempt to hide it.

English umpires Richard Illingworth and Nigel Llong did walk over and talk to Bancroft at the time, and he produced what appeared to be a black sunglasses bag from his right pocket, not the object seen previously.

Although the umpires appeared satisfied with Bancroft’s explanation on the field at the time and allowed play to continue, with no change to the ball, match officials could decide to review the footage further.

Reverse swing has played a major part of this series, and players can increase that by roughing up the ball with foreign objects, which is strictly prohibited in cricket.

(c) Sky News 2018: Australia caught up in ball tampering suspicion during South Africa Test