Cricket ball tampering scandal: Cameron Bancroft was filmed putting chewing gum, not sugar, in pocket during Ashes

CAMERON Bancroft has been unfairly accused of cheating in last summer’s Ashes triumph against England.

An image from a video purporting to show Cameron Bancroft taking sugar from a bowl and then placing it in his pocket during the Ashes. It was chewing gum.

CAMERON Bancroft has been unfairly accused of cheating in last summer’s Ashes triumph against England.

The Australian opener was caught on camera reportedly appearing to pour sugar into his left pocket during the SCG Test.

UK tabloid The Sun published the footage as well a story suggesting Bancroft might have used the sugar to aid the ball to swing.

But the Herald Sun has confirmed that Bancroft was simply helping himself to a piece of chewing gum.

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It is team policy for the Australians to use spoons to serve nuts and pellets of chewing gum from bowls for hygiene purposes.

An image from a video purporting to show Cameron Bancroft taking sugar from a bowl and then placing it in his pocket during the Ashes. It was chewing gum.

That helps prevent the outbreak of illnesses such as gastro, colds, flus and viruses.

The footage of Bancroft went viral on social media on Sunday.

“Bancroft was making a cup of tea as he stealthily moved the sugar into his trousers, sparking claims of potential foul-play,” The Sun reported.

“Many disgruntled England fans have suggested he could have used the coarse nature of raw sugar to scratch the ball.

“BBC journalist Dan Walker even described Bancroft as looking ‘sheepish’ as he slipped the substance into his pocket.”

Bancroft, 25, is expected to be stood down from the fourth Test in South Africa following his involvement in the ball tampering scandal.

Originally published as Cricket ball tampering scandal: Cameron Bancroft was filmed putting chewing gum, not sugar, in pocket during Ashes