Michael Vaughan says he is ‘pretty sure’ that Australia tampered the ball in the Ashes

May 29, 2023 at 3:45 PM

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Michael Vaughan says he is ‘pretty sure’ that Australia tampered the ball in the Ashes

The ball-tampering saga has surely tainted the image of Australian cricket, and their players are being seen as cheaters by some of the former players and cricket pundits. This time it’s England 2005 Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan who has given a huge statement after Steven Smith accepted his blunder of tampering the ball.

Michael Vaughan
Michael Vaughan believes the legacy of this Australian side has been tainted forever. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

The whole incident came into the reckoning when Cameron Bancroft was caught tampering the ball with a yellow colored foreign object by the cameramen. Match referee and the on-field umpires then spoke to the Australian captain and Bancroft, and they both agreed to the accusation.

Cameron Bancroft, Michael Vaughan
Cameron Bancroft was caught tampering the ball. Image Courtesy: Twitter

Smith later confessed that the act was a pre-meditated plan of the leadership group and they were fully aware of Bancroft’s act on the field.

However, ever since the news of his confession has come out, several former cricketers and experts have expressed that they feel that this was not the first time that this Australian side was engaged in the ball tampering.

Michael Vaughan
Australia won the Ashes 4-0. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Similarly, Michael Vaughan feels that he is ‘pretty sure’ that the Aussies were tampering the ball in the recent Ashes series. Australia dominated England and won the series 4-0.

Vaughan said:

“I can’t believe that this hasn’t happened before. I look at the amount of tape some of the fielders have worn, particularly during the Ashes series, mid-on, mid-off. (You) don’t have to name names but they know who they are. I’m pretty sure that it was going on during the Ashes series. But it wasn’t the reason why England lost 4-0. They still would have lost that series.” 

Michael Vaughan
Vaughan is sure that this Australian team has been practicing ball tampering in the past as well. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Vaughan admitted that teams in the past had used tricks to tamper the ball. He said,

“You’d see the ball get bounced into the rough to create reverse swing, you’d see sweets in the mouth, you’d see saliva put on the ball to try and keep that shine for longer.” 

“Is that right? Many will say not, but that’s what has happened in the game of cricket for many, many years and will continue to happen, because it’s very hard to control. One unwritten rule in the game is that you don’t take a piece or an object out there to tamper with the ball, and I’m pretty sure the Australians and the players involved in that leadership group will face the consequences.”

Vaughan did not agree with the idea of imposing a life ban on Smith but believes that the image of this Australian has been tainted forever:

“It doesn’t really matter what they achieve in their careers. They’re going be known as a team that cheated.”

Here’s the news feed:

Steve Smith’s behavior had fallen below standard: MCC

Think Steve Smith Was Attempting To Protect A Young Player, Says Moises Henriques On Sandpaper Gate

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