Dawid Malan’s latest take might be his most controversial yet.
The England batter has suggested that cricket should consider legalising a controlled form of ball tampering to restore balance between bat and ball.
Speaking on BBC’s Strategic Timeout podcast, Malan pointed out that ball tampering isn’t exactly a new phenomenon — rather, it’s one that’s just been policed differently over time.
Legalise ball tampering?!
Dawid Malan has a radical suggestion to shake up cricket.
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“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.
To be clear, he isn’t advocating a free-for-all. Malan stressed that any changes should stay within limits.
“Obviously, do not bring things in from outside. But, it’s a skill in itself — to get the ball to reverse swing.”
Reverse swing, once a defining weapon in fast bowling, has become harder to execute in modern white-ball cricket, thanks to stricter regulations, frequent ball changes, and flatter pitches.
Helping Bowlers Survive the Death Overs
Malan’s bigger concern lies with the imbalance in today’s game, especially in the final overs.
“I think it would make cricket a lot more bowler-friendly towards the end, if you can get the ball reversing,” he explained.
“I think it would make games tighter towards the end, and it wouldn’t just be winning with six wickets in hand.”
A Tactical Reset for Modern Cricket
For Malan, the solution isn’t radical. It’s practical.
“Batters are so skilled now, that if you can get any tactical advantage with the ball — shaping it a little bit, reverse swinging it — you want to do what you can to do that.”
“If you can get the ball to move, it makes such a difference at the death — the hardest overs to bowl,” he said.
