07 January,2010 11:23 AM IST | | AFP
South African batsman AB de Villiers reignited a controversy over ball tampering on Wednesday when he accused England fast bowler Stuart Broad of being 'a little bit naughty' and said he believed an official complaint should have been made about Broad's actions during the third Test at Newlands.
Earlier in the day the matter appeared to have been laid to rest when the South African team management confirmed it had not made an official complaint, having brought concerns about the condition of the ball being altered to the attention of match referee Roshan Mahanama.
The International Cricket Council issued a statement saying no action would be taken against England players. The statement said the umpires had viewed the footage of incidents shown in television coverage on Tuesday and decided not to bring a charge against any player.
No official complaint was made by South Africa and the deadline for submitting a complaint passed when play resumed on Wednesday.
De Villiers had clearly not been briefed on these developments when he attended a press conference at the close of the fourth day's play.
Television pictures captured Broad stopping, then stepping on the ball with his spikes, while fellow fast bowler James Anderson appeared to be manipulating the seam.
"It's not on to be climbing onto the ball with your spikes," said De Villiers.
He added the South Africans had been discussing the ability of the English bowlers to obtain reverse swing relatively early in an innings since the second Test in Durban, where reverse swing undid several top order batsmen in South Africa's innings defeat.
"We all like to get the ball to reverse and to swing all over the show as long as you do it in a legal way," said De Villiers, who added that as the fielder designated to look after the ball he had been asked by captain Graeme Smith why the ball did not swing as early for the South Africans as it did for England.
De Villiers said he had not seen anything illegal himself but referred to the television footage of Broad stepping on the ball.
"I think there should be a formal complaint because the ball did reverse after that," he said.
"It was quite clear there was a piece of the leather missing after he stepped on the ball and it's not the first time it's happened. It's a little bit naughty. I wouldn't say he deserves to be banned but it should be looked at."
De Villiers' comments prompted South African team manager Mohamed Moosajee to explain the official team position. He said the team were satisfied with the decision of the match referee.
"Our concern was raised to the match referee. He came back to us and said the umpires had looked at it and did not intend to take any further action."
Moosajee denied that South Africa's raising of the issue was aimed at any England players.
"The TV footage showed the condition of the ball was changed. There was an indentation on the ball and marks that went across it."
Moosajee also denied the issue had been brewing since the Durban Test.
When asked about De Villiers' comments, he said: "The team is made up of different individuals. That's his opinion. I am telling you what the team position is."
England vice-captain Alastair Cook said he was glad the matter was officially closed.
"We know what we've done is fine. The best people have looked at it. The umpires and the match referee, with all the TV evidence, have found nothing wrong."
He explained the early reverse swing in Durban.
"The outfield was quite lush but the square was abrasive. We were surprised at the time. We were trying to look after the ball conventionally and from nowhere it got scuffed up on the square and started to reverse swing."
Both De Villiers and Cook said the issue had not affected relations between the teams. De Villiers said there was tension but it was purely because of the situation in the series.
"There's more than enough tension because obviously we want to win. We still clap when a guy gets to fifty or a hundred. We still like to have the normal manners, greeting guys, but when you go out there you're playing for your country and you give your best."
Cook said the spirit between the teams was good.
"There are two tough teams playing cricket," he said.
