ICC should clarify 'grey areas' on ball tampering: Cook

ICC should clarify 'grey areas' on ball tampering: Cook

Mohali: England captain Alastair Cook reckons that there are a lot of "grey areas" as to what exactly would be considered ball tampering and ICC needs to come clear on that.

With Faf du Plessis being docked 100 percent after being seen applying saliva from a sweet mint that he was chewing and the alleged footage published in a British tabloid of Indian captain Virat Kohli applying saliva has been a topic of discussion for the last few days.

When Cook’s opinion was sought, he gave an elaborate reply: "I think the players are just looking for the ICC to clarify what is acceptable and what isn't. If a guy is chewing a gum or just throwing jelly beans in his mouth at drinks break and then happens to shine the ball in the next over, it becomes a very grey area."

"If the ICC is saying you must not put your finger on the sweet and then straight onto the ball then it might clear it up. I don't know if it helps or not, to be brutally honest," suggested Cook.

Interestingly, his new ball bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad were accused of ball tampering against England’s tour of South Africa in 2010.