The fielding team has had a tough sandpaper-type material added into their trousers, just where they rub the ball to be shined. As in...sewed as part of the design. Is this legal?
No it isn’t. I remember Faf du Plessis was once charged for a similar thing when he tampered with the ball using the zip in his trouser.
They are allowed to wear it, but if they use it to change the condition, well 5 runs to the opposite team.
You think that the condition of the ball has been altered illegally. What action do you take?
I first report it to the match referee. Then get a ball, with a similar condition (before tampering hapeneed), give 5 penalty runs to the other team, and get on with it.
The batsman hits a weak straight drive and immediately sets off for a run. Being an ex-cricketer, you immediately throw your arm out and grab the ball on the full. Instinct, as it were. It has not yet bounced. The bowler runs back to you and takes the ball and appeals for a catch. What is your decision? (The ball has not been grounded after hitting the bat yet.)
First of all, what the hell kind of instinct that is? Dead Ball.
What if the bowler from the above scenario breaks the stumps with said ball at the non-striker's end? The batsmen are in mid pitch.
Dead Ball. And I seriously need to stop getting in the way of the ball.