How about some leeway for cricketers, writes Ian Chappell

SAs Faf du Plessis during a press conference ahead of the third Test against Australia on Wednesday He was fined 100 of his match fees after being found guilty of balltampering at Hobart PicGetty ImagesThe furore over Faf du Plessis mint sucking episode brought a whole new connotation to the term gobsmacked following Australias complete capitulation at Bellerive Like the capitulation Du Plessis misdemeanour at Bellerive could prove to be a watershed moment the former instance turned the spotlight on Australian selections while the latter had a similar effect on the ball tampering lawOn the basis that if you cant beat them you might as well join them I proposed a few years ago that players should be allowed one thing that assisted them in swinging the ballSwing bowling is crucialLike wristspin bowling the swinging delivery is crucial to Test crickets viability as a competitive and entertaining sport In both cases the bowler has to bowl a full length to encourage the batsman to drive and this often leads to one of two outcomes it either brings about a classical shot for a boundary or a misjudgement that prematurely ends an inningsThe riskreward aspect of these two forms of bowling add greatly to the anticipation and enjoyment of cricket fans Both arts should be encouraged by selectors and law makersWith this in mind I suggested the law makers should invite the international captains to check with their players and then provide a list of things they felt enhanced swing bowling Once these lists were submitted the law makers would then decide on one thing that enhanced swing bowling and make it legalA player using any other method of enhancement would face a ban with severe consequences for straying By compromising in this manner the administrators would not only enhance the game but also simplify life for the officials at the ground and give the players an incentive to obey the lawMake one method legalBy making one method of preparing the ball legal there would also be less pressure on teams to try and outdo their opponents There would also be less risk that one side would be caught while another got off scotfreeThe greatest success on the field would then be achieved by the most skilful swing bowlers It was pretty obvious that Du Plessis was angered by his fine and the inference that he was a cheat He responded exactly as you would expect from a proud strongminded person in making a defiant century at the Adelaide Oval By the time Du Plessis was celebrating his three figure score Ill bet there were many proAustralian supporters who wished they hadnt inspired the South African captain by booing him on his way to the creaseThe fact that no opponent of Du Plessis was enraged by his actions and many were even supportive suggests that as has been inferred all teams are doing it Englands Marcus Trescothick even revealed in a book that the 2005 team used sweets to assist with the shining of the ball in their successful Ashes campaignHence the feeling that if you cant beat em then join em If international batsmen were to object to a proposal to legalise a ball shining enhancement it would be hypocritical Firstly many of the current laws and playing conditions favour batsmen over bowlers Secondly the majority of captains are batsmen and they are happy to condone their own players questionable actions when the team is in the fieldWith the advent of leagues like the IPL that attract many overseas players there are now virtually no secrets in the game Also the advent of these leagues mean that players from different international teams become quite close friends and consequently theyre reluctant to be critical of each other Producing late swinging deliveries has always been a destructive weapon for bowlers and an exciting aspect of the game for fans At Bellerive Australia was beaten by the better bowling side rather than an opposing captain who liberally applied gobs of mint flavoured saliva to the ball