SA vs AUS 2018: Vaughan accuses Australia of ball tampering in Ashes

Australia won the Ashes 4-0.

Smith scored over 600 runs in the Ashes series against England. (AFP)

After England Test skipper Joe Root denied claims of Australia's involvement in their (Australia's) Ashes victory earlier this year, former England skipper Michael Vaughan has come out with fresh allegations post the infamous sandpaper gate scandal amidst which couple of famous Australian cricketers involving Steve Smith and David  Warner find themselves in. 

At the end of Day three against South Africa in Cape Town, Smith claimed that this was the "first time" such an act had taken place under his leadership. However, Vaughan differs with the statement. "I can't believe that this hasn't happened before," he told BBC Sport.

"I look at the amount of tape some of the fielders have worn, particularly during the Ashes series (2017-18) at mid-on and mid-off. I don't have to name names, but they know who they are. I am pretty sure that it (ball tampering) was going on throughout the Ashes."

Smith was banned for a Test and penalized with 100 percent match fees by the International Cricket Council. He could yet face more severe sanctions in the form of losing his captaincy and a lengthier ban by Cricket Australia (CA) after its investigation into the matter.

Meanwhile, after ICC's charge against Smith, he has stood down from Rajasthan Royals' captaincy as well and the franchise have named Ajinkya Rahane as their skipper for the season. Also VVS Laxman, Sunrisers Hyderabad mentor has said that Warner's future as SRH skipper will rest on ICC's decision on the matter after a thorough investigation. 

Meanwhile England pacer Stuart Broad also questioned Australia's use of ball tampering tactics after they were getting the ball to reverse way more than it would actually swing in those conditions. 

 "Look at the Ashes series we've just played, look through all of those Test matches and they reverse swing the ball sometimes in conditions you wouldn't expect the ball to reverse. So I don't understand why they've changed their method for this one game," Broad said on Sunday

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 27 Mar, 2018

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