New Zealand Test batter Henry Nicholls facing ball-tampering charge

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Test batter Henry Nicholls has been accused of breaking New Zealand Cricket’s code of conduct after being reported by umpires for ball tampering in a domestic first-class match.

Television footage of the Plunket Shield match between Nicholls’ Canterbury province and Auckland this week appears to show Nicholls brushing the ball against a helmet during a change of ends.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Henry Nicholls allegedly tampering with the ball.

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“Nicholls has been reported for allegedly breaching Rule 3.1, article 1.15 of the Code during Day 3 of the Plunket Shield match between Canterbury and Auckland at Hagley Oval,” New Zealand Cricket said in a statement Friday.

The rule “involves changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 41.3 of the Laws of Cricket.”

Henry Nicholls is under investigation for ball tampering. Credit: NZC

New Zealand Cricket said the allegation had been referred to a commissioner for first-class cricket. No date has yet been set for the hearing.

Nicholls made 120 in the first innings and another 30 not out in the second innings as Canterbury cruised to an eight-wicket win.

The 31-year-old is due to tour Bangladesh with the New Zealand squad later this month.

Nicholls has not commented on the charge.

New Zealand’s leading limited-overs players are in India competing at the Cricket World Cup, where a win over Sri Lanka on Thursday moved the 2019 runners-up closer to qualifying for the semi-finals.