Warwickshire accept ECB's £5000 fine for ball tampering Coleman, who received a two match ban suspended for two years, admitted using a mint to help shine the ball. County players have long believed that sugar from mints, applied by saliva, helps to keep the shine on balls but Coleman was reported by umpires Martin Saggers and Alan Bayley after he dabbed his fingers on a mint in his pocket. Warwickshire players are understood to be upset that the Edinburgh-born 21-year-old Coleman was made an example of and that the ECB press release issued after Saturday's hearing at Edgbaston lacked detail of the offence. "We are working closely with the ECB over the education and communication of this type of issue," said Jason Ratcliffe, assistant chief executive of the Professional Cricketers" Association. But the rules are clear that no artificial substance should be used to change the condition of the ball. Whether there is any scientific evidence to show that mints or any other sweets have any effect on a cricket ball or the way It behaves, remains an unanswered question. Ironically one member of the disciplinary panel, former England and Gloucestershire seamer Mike Smith, made a presentation on ball tampering to the first-class umpires before the start of the 2005 season.