South Africa captain Faf du Plessis could face disciplinary action from the International Cricket Council after being caught on video chewing mint and then using his saliva to shine the ball during Australia’s second innings. The footage shows du Plessis chewing a white, round mint in his mouth as he polished the ball in the midst of an Australian batting collapse on the fourth day in Hobart.
“The ICC has been alerted to the footage and is currently reviewing the incident from the perspective of it being a possible breach of the ICC Code of Conduct,” an ICC spokesperson told Fox Sports.
The incident took place during the 54th over, with Australia at 150 for five. It was then that the host broadcaster’s cameras caught du Plessis with the mint on his tongue, licking his finger before rubbing the ball a couple of times.
Incidentally, Australia wicketkeeper Peter Nevill was dismissed on the next ball.
This is not the first instance that Du Plessis has found himself in such a predicament. He had admitted to ball tampering and was fined 50% of his match fee during an incident in a Test against Pakistan three years ago. Du Plessis was then found grinding the ball against a metal zipper on his trousers.