Words from the Wise Man of the MCC

SUCK ON THAT FAF


MCC Make it clear......LOL

South African captain Faf du Plessis’s appeal against being found guilty of changing the condition of the ball during the second Test against Australia in Hobart last month has been dismissed.  Match referee Andy Pycroft had found du Plessis guilty of a breach the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Code of Conduct and fined him 100 per cent of his match fee, and ICC Judicial Commissioner Michael Beloff QC has now confirmed that censure was appropriate (PTG 2000-10102, 9 December 2016). 

The result comes after a two-and-a-half hour hearing held in Dubai on Monday, du Plessis being represented there by legal counsel, the player himself taking part via video link.  Beloff, who took two days to consider the submissions before handing down his findings, had the power to increase or decrease the punishment depending on the outcome of the hearing.  That could have meant the South Africa skipper may have been suspended for his side’s opening Test against Sri Lanka on Boxing Day.

Beloff said via media release that "had he concluded [du Plessis] was not telling the truth when he claimed that he believed that his actions were compatible with the Code and the Laws, I would have given serious consideration to the imposition of Suspension Points, not least because of the special responsibility imposed upon a captain, especially of a Test match side”.  He concluded his comments by saying that it is up to the ICC and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) to determine where "the line needs to be drawn and what conduct is or is not considered to be offensive to the sport of cricket”. 

Cricket South Africa (CSA) have accepted Beloff's decision, its chief executive Haroon Lorgat saying: "We are satisfied with the matter being given due consideration by a person independent of the ICC. Both CSA and Faf believed that this appeal was imperative considering the important principles at stake.  In our view, the fact that Mr Beloff deliberated for some time after hearing complex legal arguments from both sides demonstrates that this matter does indeed require further consideration and clarification from the ICC and the MCC". 

Du Plessis has repeatedly pleaded his innocence since being charged, expressing the view that every team manipulates the ball like he had been accused of doing. He said last month he feels "like I've done nothing wrong ... it's not like I was trying to cheat or anything.  For me [ball tampering] is picking the ball, scratching the ball. Shining the ball, I think all cricketers would say, is not in the same place.  It's such a grey area in the Laws and I think it's something that now will be looked at.  I think it was just blown out of proportion by everyone”.

During the hearing, du Plessis explained he uses mints or sweets to preserve the ball in a new and shiny state for as long as possible.  "Basically, we use sweets for two reasons”, he said. "One was that my mouth was very dry and I wanted to try and get a bit of saliva going.  And the second is to make sure that you can keep the ball as new and as shiny and preserve that shine for as long as possible

Discussing Beloff's finding, ICC chief executive David Richardson said: “We hope that this serves as a deterrent to all players not to engage in this sort of unfair practice in the future.  It goes without saying that we will be reviewing the outcome to determine if any additional guidelines are needed to provide further clarity to the players and umpires around this type of offence. However we are satisfied that the Law is clear and is implemented consistently”.

MCC head of cricket John Stephenson last month dismissed suggestions the current law is vague.  He said then: “My advice to [any player who is confused] would be to not contravene the law, which is very clear"..