adminCAPE TOWN. — The Australian cricket team have distanced themselves from allegations of ball tampering laid against South Africa, according to bowler Ryan Harris.
“Davey’s (David Warner) comments were wrong, it’s been dealt with. I don’t really want to deal with that further,” said Harris.
Warner had suggested that South African wicket-keeper AB de Villiers used his gloves to tamper with the ball during the second test in Port Elizabeth.
Warner was subsequently fined 15 percent of his match fee for his comments.
Harris admitted South Africa were simply better at getting the ball to reverse swing.
“It was about the manner South Africa dealt with ball — handling the ball better.
“They did something we didn’t do and got the ball reversing.”
If South Africa had done anything illegal, the umpires or the match referee would have taken action, Harris said.
“He’s (De Villiers) obviously doing something with his gloves, but it’s not illegal,” he said.
“I didn’t take a lot of notice, we saw him doing a couple of things now and then. If he was doing anything illegal, he would have been charged.
“You throw it (the ball) into the ground from the outfield, you try and rough one side up. That’s the whole idea of reverse swing bowling. Everyone does it around the world.”
On the playing side, Harris said his team would have to up their game to compete with the Proteas who won the second test convincingly, to square the series at 1-1.
“We know what we did in Port Elizabeth was not anything like what we’ve been doing over the last 12 months,” he said.
“We’ve just got to make some minor adjustments. A week before that we rolled them. We just need to make sure our skills are up to scratch, and then we can win.”
The third and final test starts at Newlands, in Cape Town, on Saturday, and Harris said Australia would be up for the challenge.
“We’ve had a good break. We had two days off,” he said.
“If you’re having trouble getting up and going to play the No 1 team in the world, and potentially beating them, you should be on the plane home.”
Crushing victories for either side in the first two matches have set up a potentially thrilling decider when South Africa host Australia in the final test at Newlands here tomorrow.
The tourists blazed their way to a comprehensive 281-run victory in the opening game in Pretoria, but South Africa proved their resilience with an equally emphatic 231-run success in Port Elizabeth last weekend.
The Proteas are now seeking a first home test series win over Australia in 44 years on a ground where they have lost just once in 12 years and 16 matches — to the Australians in 2006.
A worry for the home side is the form of captain Graeme Smith, who has scored just 37 runs in four innings, but Proteas coach Russell Domingo has backed his skipper to come good on a ground where he averages 52 in tests.
“Graeme’s record speaks for itself, it is rare he goes through a series without making a contribution with the bat. His contribution as captain is always huge. He has just found ways of getting out, there have been some strange dismissals.”
Australia have a similar problem. Captain Michael Clarke has not gone past 24 in his last 11 test innings and is the only one in the top six not to get significant runs in this series.
South Africa will hope to be more clinical in the field, where they have put in two nervous performances in the series so far.
Smith joked at the post-match presentation in Port Elizabeth that his side had actually taken 28 wickets in the test given their high number of spills. — SuperSport.
Online Reporter