Mickey Arthur also talked about the reverse swing and called it an art of bowling.
Sri Lanka cricket team coach Mickey Arthur believes the ball-tampering existed in cricket before the 2018 Sandpaper Gate scandal during a Test match between Australia and South Africa.
The incident saw the involvement of Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft, and they were punished with a suspension from cricket. While Smith and Warner were suspended for a year, Bancroft had to stay away from cricket for 9 months.
Arthur thinks now the players are scared to try altering the condition of the ball after the Sandpaper Gate. He further added that balls are being checked more often now as well during the course of play.
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“You’d be naive to say otherwise. You’d be naive to think teams hadn’t tried some sweets to sweeten up your saliva to give the ball a buff - teams were doing that," Arthur was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald.
"[Now] I think everybody’s just a little bit on edge. I do think people are too scared to try anything. The ball is being checked numerous times in any game. Every couple of overs the ball goes to the umpire and he has a look at it," he further added.
Arthur wants to see the reverse swing return to cricket as it's an incredible art and a good skill of the bowler. "I would like to see a reverse swing back in the game without a doubt. I think the reverse swing is an incredible art. When a bowler gets it to go it’s an incredibly good skill.
"Obviously, we’re talking about getting the ball to go legally. It’s amazing to watch. There’s no better sight than when a fast bowler is running in and getting the ball to reverse at a good pace,” he signed off.