Umpires have accused New Zealand Test hitter Henry Nicholls of ball tampering, according to sources. TV footage showed him brushing the ball against his helmet during the Plunket Shield encounter between Nicholls’ Canterbury province and Auckland. On Day 3 of the match at Hagley Oval, Nicholls was reported for a probable violation of Rule 3.1, Article 1.15 of the Code, according to New Zealand Cricket. A hearing date has yet to be scheduled for the case, which has been sent to a first-class cricket commissioner. Nicholls will join the New Zealand squad on a tour of Bangladesh later this month.