What do cricketers and former players have to say about Faf Du Plessis's ball tampering incident

With the Faf du Plessis ball-tampering controversy gathering plenty of steam, here is a look at who has said what on the incident, which could trend on Twitter with the hashtag #LollipopGate in the coming days. [caption id=“attachment_3106134” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Faf du Plessis (L) during the match against Australia. AP[/caption] To give a bit of overview, South Africa’s demolition of Australia in the second Test match at Hobart was brought under question as Faf du Plessis was caught on camera applying saliva to the ball with a sweet in his mouth. The International Cricket Council (ICC) could ban du Plessis from one Test if he is found guilty, putting him in doubt for next week’s third Test in Adelaide. Hashim Amla and the rest of the Proteas squad made clear on Friday how they felt about the charge, the batsman describing it as a “joke” with his team mates standing behind him. Steyn added his thoughts on Twitter on Saturday. “Beaten with the bat. Beaten with the ball. Beaten in the field. Mentally stronger. Here’s a idea, Let’s blame it on a lollipop, #soft,” he posted.

Beaten with the bat.
Beaten with the ball.
Beaten in the field.
Mentally stronger.

Here's a idea, Let's blame it on a lollipop 🍭 #soft

— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) November 18, 2016

Steyn later tried to clarify his comment with another post. “Just so we clear, I’m not blaming the aussies, but I won’t let a fantastic series win be tarnished by some lollipop fabrication. 3-0 mission.”

Just so we clear, I'm not blaming the aussies, but I won't let a fantastic series win be tarnished by some lollipop fabrication. 3-0 mission

— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) November 18, 2016

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Former South African captain Graeme Smith had the following to say about the incident.

I cannot believe the puppet show the @ICC has become, ball tampering allegations are a joke.

— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) November 18, 2016

The Aussies had no support from their own as well as former opener Matthew Hayden tweeted his disdain at the ball tampering incident taking the sheen away from a brilliant South African performance and a Australian batting display that deserved no sympathy.

Ball tampering OMG please. What about this 'Watch the ball' the rest will look after itself!!!

— Matthew Hayden AM (@HaydosTweets) November 18, 2016

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But while most cricketers were berating Australia for not accepting defeat, former India skipper Sourav Ganguly batted for them and talked to ESPNcricinfo about how du Plessis’ actions might have been wrong. “In the past there were people having chewing gums or sweets in the mouth and they kept putting the saliva (on the ball) because the ball ‘shines’ that way. Also what it does is the sugar which sticks on the ball makes it heavier and therefore you can swing with the old ball. So from that point of view it was pretty apparent. I’m sure he has done that before but done it in a much ‘polite’ way so that it isn’t apparent on TV. But I think they have pulled him for the right reason,” said the CAB chief to ESPNcricinfo. Ganguly then went onto say, “No I don’t think you have to put any external thing on the ball. The rules of the game have to remain. So if he is putting the sugar from the lolli, I think it is definitely helping the ball to do something so I completely agree with this.” With input from agencies