'Let people scratch the ball': England cricketer calls to 'legalise' ball tampering
Dawid Malan has proposed legalising limited, controlled ball tampering to restore balance in cricket. He argues it already happens and should be regulated, not ignored. Malan believes allowing minor changes could revive reverse swing and help bowlers, especially in death overs.
With batters dominating modern cricket, he sees this as a practical tweak to make matches tighter and more competitive without completely breaking existing rules.
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.