England now curious about Perth Test
ALASTAIR Cook admits England were “curious” about Australia possibly ball-tampering in the recent Ashes series.
Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft have been handed bans by Cricket Australia after they came up with a plot to use sandpaper on the ball in their third Test with South Africa last month.
Although they all claimed that was their first instance of ball-tampering, focus has now been put on the Ashes, with TV footage since emerging of Bancroft putting sugar in his pocket while Australia’s consistent ability to get reverse swing had England’s bowlers scratching their heads.
Cook, who was part of the side that lost the series 4-0, has admitted that could have been down to the express pace of the Australian attack, but also raised questions about the third Test in Perth.
Asked whether England suspected Australia of balltampering during the Ashes, he replied: “Yes, a little bit, certainly in Perth when the outfield was wet with rain they got the ball reversing.
“I didn’t see anything. We have been pretty good at managing the ball to see if we can get it to reverse swing but then there’s the thing with the quicker you bowl the ball it re verse swings more. That was the thing in 2005, we had Simon Jones and Freddie (Andrew Flintoff), who were quicker than the Australian bowlers.
“We were curious at certain moments but then we couldn’t get the ball up to 90mph (145km/h), where they consistently could.”
Although the three Australians’ actions in Cape Town were deplored, some sympathy has been given over the length of the sanctions, with Smith and Warner both receiving year-long suspensions.
But Cook said that should be a timely reminder for the game to be played in the right way.
I DIDN’T SEE ANYTHING. WE HAVE BEEN PRETTY GOOD AT MANAGING THE BALL TO SEE IF WE CAN GET IT TO REVERSE SWING BUT ... THE QUICKER YOU BOWL THE BALL IT REVERSE SWINGS MORE ALASTAIR COOK