New Zealand Batter Henry Nicholls Cleared Of Ball-Tampering By NZC
Henry Nicholls alongside his NZ teammates during a Test match (x.com)
Henry Nicholls has been cleared of ball tampering charges by a New Zealand Cricket (NZC) Code of Conduct Hearing. Earlier this week, the cricketer found himself in trouble following an alleged ball-tampering charge during a Plunket Shield 2023-2024 match.
Fielding for Canterbury in a match against Auckland in Christchurch, Nicholls was spotted brushing the ball against the helmet multiple times during a change of ends, just minutes before Tea-break on Day 3. The series of such occurrences happened before the start of 32nd, 33rd, and 35th overs, respectively, during Auckland’s second innings.
Regardless, Nicholls has been cleared of the charge after NZC issued an official statement just two days after the incident.
Henry Nicholls cleared of ball-tampering
Henry Nicholls, who was reported by the umpires over a possible ball-tampering case after Canterbury’s first-class match against Auckland, has been cleared of all charges by the NZC.
The cricketer will be allowed to play Canterbury’s subsequent Plunket Shield matches and will also be considered for New Zealand’s upcoming two-Test tour of Bangladesh later this month.
Issuing an official statement, the NZC said:
“The Commissioners found that neither the actions of Nicholls nor the evidence presented met the threshold required to rule a breach of the Code under Rule 3.1, Article 1.15 (Appendix A). We find the player’s actions were, in fact, unlikely to alter the condition of the ball or the shape of the ball.”
The 32-year-old cricketer, having made his international debut in 2015, has represented New Zealand in 54 Tests, 72 ODIs and 10 T20I matches so far.
Nicholls was part of New Zealand’s recent white-ball tour of Bangladesh, at a time when a number of senior players opted to rest prior to the 2023 World Cup.
 "Aakash Saini")
