Thursday 24 November 2016 18:57, UK
Chris Woakes insists England will carry on sucking their sweets in Test matches, despite the furore over Faf du Plessis' fine for ball-tampering.
Woakes is the first England player to make public comment about the controversy which erupted after South Africa's series-sealing victory over Australia in Hobart.
Du Plessis was fined his whole match fee but was not banned, and therefore cleared to lead his team in the ongoing day-night Test in Adelaide, after the International Cricket Council ruled that broadcast footage of him shining the ball with residue from a sweet in his saliva amounted to a breach of its code of conduct.
Further video evidence then emerged of Virat Kohli, from the first Test of India's series against England in Rajkot, which was interpreted by some as another possible example of the same practice.
The India captain will face no inquiry, however, because the mandatory five-day window in which an investigation must begin under ICC protocol passed before the footage came to light.
Woakes, set to return for England in Mohali on Saturday, has called for clarification on the issue - but he also believes, as the rules currently stand, there is no need for Alastair Cook's team to change their methods.
"We haven't been told off for it, or banned or fined - so we'll continue to do exactly what we've done in the past," he said.
"Occasionally at drinks breaks, the guys will come and have sweets or mints - just to freshen up and keep the energy going.
"But nothing from the sweet is allowed to go on the ball, or is supposed to. So therefore we don't do that."
Woakes would welcome a new ICC directive, following Du Plessis' punishment, to spell out exactly what is permitted.
"The fact that Faf du Plessis has been fined, the ICC are trying to make a stance on it," he said.
"I suppose it is quite a grey area isn't it? (South Africa batsman) Hashim Amla said about him having chewing gum in his mouth pretty much all day - is that deemed as wrong, as cheating? I'm not sure - I think it needs to be clarified as to exactly what the problem is."
