Ball tampering a 'cry for help' says Steyn

South Africa paceman Dale Steyn has said Australia's ball-tampering scandal was a "cry for help" because the balance between bat and ball has become so skewed in favour of batsmen.

Steyn, one of the most prolific wicket-takers of his generation, did not condone the actions in Cape Town that led to bans for David Warner, Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith, but said the incident exposed the need for cricket to change to prevent the loss of the art of reverse swing bowling.

"It's obviously not on, but if you think about it, it's almost like a cry for help. We need to do something," Steyn said.

"There's so much in favour of batsmen these days. Fields are small, two new balls, powerplays, bats have got bigger than they used to be, the list can go on.

"You bowl a no ball and it's a free hit. But I have never seen a rule change that favours the bowler."

Steyn, who is tied on 421 wickets with Shaun Pollock as South Africa's highest wicket-taker in Tests, felt the desperation to get the ball to swing was forcing cricketers to flirt with regulations.

In March, with South Africa already leading by more than 100 in the second innings for the loss of a single wicket on the third day of the third Test, Warner and Bancroft hatched a plan to tamper with the ball to try and find that reverse swing.

They paid a heavy price with Bancroft suspended for nine months, while Warner and Smith were handed one-year bans from international, state and Big Bash cricket. Warner was also given a lifetime ban from any leadership roles, while Smith faces a further 12 month ban from leading teams.

"It's a big plea and it would be a sad day to see (reverse swing) disappear," Steyn said.

"I grew up watching (Wasim) Akram, I grew up watching Waqar (Younis) and all these geniuses run in and reverse swing the ball.

"And you just don't see it today. What inspiration will other fast bowlers have if they don't have anybody to inspire them to become fast bowlers.

"You might as well put a bowling machine there and everyone try and become a batter."

Smith and Warner will play in next month's Caribbean Premier League with their CA-imposed sanctions not preventing them from playing domestic cricket abroad. 

The pair had returned to cricket in the unlikely setting of Canada for the inaugural Global T20 League. Warner and Bancroft also played this month in the 50-over NT Strike League in Darwin. 

All three are set to turn out for their club sides in their respective state's Premier Cricket competitions.

The ICC in 2011 introduced an extra new ball in one-day games, a move which many believe has made the already batsman-friendly 50-over format even more difficult for the bowlers.

India batting great Sachin Tendulkar, among others, recently called for a return to the use of one new ball from each end in order to revive reverse swing in the format.

Steyn agreed, adding that other rule changes like the limit of two bouncers per over were more of a hindrance than a help for bowlers.

"They changed the rule and said we will bring two new balls into the game," the 35-year-old added.

"I don't want a new ball when I am bowling in the subcontinent. I want an old ball that can't get hit out of the ground.

"I want a ball that when I bowl doesn't have true bounce, so that the batsman can't hit it.

"These are not rules that favour the bowler at all. They are, if anything, adding to the batsman."