Let's hope England don't bring any dirt over with them when they come over for the Ashes later this year.
Such a storm in a teacup, ball tampering, big deal, it's gone on for over 100 years, and should be LEGAL.
Big bats, small boundaries, flat pitches, almost every rule in favour of the batsman, yet people moan when you do something to the ball, utter crap. I admit, sandpaper wasn't the brightest idea.
You should be able to pick the seam, step on it, rub it in the dirt, whatever you like, BUT you get THAT ball for 80 overs, and if you ruin it, bad luck, you don't get another one until the next new ball is due.
I was reading a book recently and the story was an umpire, either Ken Palmer or Bill Alley,can't remember which, in a county match saw that the ball was moving prodigiously on a fine day. He took the ball from the bowler and asked him, "Have you picked the seam".
The bowler sheepishly said that he had and not to report him. The umpire said, "well if you don't take 5 wickets today with THAT ball, I will report you"
A different time.