SAvs AUS 2018: Faf du Plessis opens up fresh doubts over ball-tampering scandal

Lehmann will step down as Australia coach after the end of the series.

Faf Du Plessis reacted on the ball tampering scandal after Cricket Australia's decision. (Getty)

With Cricket Australia giving out their statements on the accused of the ball tampering scandal in South Africa, matters seemed to have sorted out. The focus which went away from cricket is back with the fourth Test starting in Johannesburg from Friday.

However, South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis has given a new direction to this debate altogether. He recently said in a media interaction, that the unusual amount of swing that the Australian bowlers generated in the previous two Tests as well, forced him to doubt if South Africa tampered the ball even before Cape Town. 

Meanwhile, Steve Smith had a tough time facing the media upon his return to Sydney. So much so was the impact of the ban on him, that he broke down to tears while answering questions as he blamed his leadership for the entire episode.

On the other hand, “I thought so,” he said. “The ball has been reversing quite a bit...I joked about it at the end of the last Test match that I’ve never seen so many guys put their hand up to open the batting!"

“Usually it’s green wickets and spicy in the beginning but now the big challenge in this series is coming in when the ball’s tailing around, whether that’s after 30 overs or 50 overs, but that’s the nature [of it].

“Without having any evidence of it, we thought there’s no way that the ball can go so early. It’s just unheard of for a South African series where the ball is [reversing] this much.

“We try and do the same, we try and get that ball to talk as much as possible. But we certainly don’t walk around with sandpaper in our pockets.”

“Without having any evidence of it, we thought there’s no way that the ball can go so early. It’s just unheard of for a South African series where the ball is [reversing] this much."

“We try and do the same, we try and get that ball to talk as much as possible. But we certainly don’t walk around with sandpaper in our pockets.”

“They’ve all accepted they’re guilty, they’ve all put their hands up, they’ve all taken responsibility, or as far as I’ve heard in the press. So, for me, we all make mistakes. I’m certainly not perfect - I’ve made mistakes as well, but I’ve learned from them and they will learn from these mistakes and they’ll be better for it" concluded the South African skipper. 

Meanwhile, after all the drama surrounding the ball tampering scam, Johannesburg is set to host fourth and final Test match of the series starting today. 

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 30 Mar, 2018

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