Champions Trophy: England accused of ball-tampering against Lanka

A storm is brewing in the Champions Trophy with England being forced to deny allegations of ball-tampering during their match against Sri Lanka.

The furore, blown into the open by former England captain Bob Willis, started when umpires Aleem Dar and Billy Bowden changed one of the two balls in the 26th over of Sri Lanka`s successful run chase at the Oval on Thursday evening in the ICC Champions Trophy.

England captain Alastair Cook has angrily dismissed it saying that the bowlers can reverse swing the ball because of their skill and hard work.

Cook was visibly upset when the umpires had changed the ball as they believed that it was out of shape, although he believed that the ball was reaching the optimum condition to start reverse swinging.

“The ball was changed because it was out of shape. That was the umpire’s reasoning," Cook was quoted as saying in The Sun.

“The umpires make those decisions, so you have to accept them. Sometimes you don’t think they are the right decisions but there’s not much you can do about it.”

Fast bowling legend Willis, speaking on Sky Sports, had alleged in an incendiary claim that one English player had been illegally damaging the ball with his fingernails.

An ICC spokesman has said: “The umpires and match referee cannot talk about specific incidents during a tournament.

“But our understanding is that the ball was changed because it went out of shape.”

Reverse swing has been considered something of a dark art ever since the ball was changed during a one-day international between England and Pakistan at Lord`s in 1992.

James Anderson is England’s king of swing both reverse and orthodox.

England gained it against Australia at Edgbaston last Saturday and won by 48 runs, but were  blunted by Sri Lanka losing by seven wickets.

Last week, umpire Dar was seen speaking to Bopara during the final match of England’s one-day series against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, The Sun reported added.

And former Aussie speedster Dirk Nannes, working as a summariser for BBC Radio, suggested sweets were brought out to Bopara by the 12th man during Saturday’s victory over Australia in Birmingham.

In 2009, former England player Dermot Reeve accused Bopara of ball-tampering during a domestic match in New Zealand — a claim that was strongly denied.