Joe Root rubbishes claims of ball tampering by Australia in Ashes 2018

Australia won the Ashes series 4-0.

Smith and Root led their respective countries in the Ashes. (Cricket Australia)

The Australian ball tampering case has taken the cricketing world by storm and has dampened the image of Australia cricket to a great extent. The involvement of Steve Smith in the case being the skipper of the team has also made cricket experts to question his integrity as a cricketer. Having accepted ICC charges against him, he was banned by the body for the next Test in Johannesburg. He has also stepped down as the skipper of IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals, the franchise which retained him ahead of the auctions.

Meanwhile Joe Root, England Test skipper has denied claims of ball tampering by the Australian team during the Ashes series which Australia won by a 4-0 margin earlier this year. 

Unsourced media reports in Britain have said that some England players had suspicions over whether Australia had doctored the ball during their 4-0 series victory, but Root quickly knocked that down on Monday.

“Not to my knowledge. I was not aware of any ball tampering,” Root told reporters in Auckland after his side crashed to an innings and 49-run loss to New Zealand in the first Test.

“I have enough to worry about… but it’s disappointing for Test cricket and cricket in general.

England pace bowler Stuart Broad had also said that he was unaware of any tampering by Australia’s bowlers, despite the fact they were able to get reverse swing in conditions that were not usually conducive to being able to do so.

Root also said that while in cases like these the captain is always brought into the limelight, the other players in the team should also have a control over their behavior. 

“As captain, you’re responsible for how everyone else behaves,” he said. “I have to look after my own group and make sure I’m happy with how they conduct themselves.As an international player, you should know the rules. I should not have to back that up. It’s as simple as that.”

As it turned out, in spite of their indifferent efforts, Australia lost the Test match within four days and by a margin of 322 runs. With Steve Smith suspended for the next Test, Australia are already on the back foot going into the next Test match at the Wanderers. 

Tim Paine who led Australia on the fourth day of the Cape Town Test will shoulder responsibilities once again in Johannesburg.

Tim Paine who led Australia on the fourth day of the Cape Town Test will shoulder responsibilities once again in Johannesburg. 

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 27 Mar, 2018

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