New Zealand Cricket is accusing Henry Nicholls of ball-tampering in a Plunket Shield match between Canterbury and Auckland. TV footage showed Nicholls brushing the ball against a helmet, allegedly breaching the Code involving changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 41.3 of the Laws of Cricket. The allegation has been referred to a commissioner for first-class cricket, with no date set for the hearing. Nicholls has not commented on the charge. Despite the accusation, he played a significant role in leading Canterbury to an eight-wicket win in the match. New Zealand’s leading limited-overs players are currently competing in the ODI World Cup in India.
