De Villiers ‘pretty upset’ with fresh tampering row

De Villiers became embroiled in a row with the standing umpires, Rob Bailey and Chris Gaffaney, after they queried the condition of the ball before the start of the 34th over in England’s innings bowled by Keshav Maharaj. However, the Proteas skipper later said he felt it was being implied that his players were at fault for scuffing up the ball. 

“The umpires felt the condition of the ball changed,” de Villiers said. “In a way, making me feel that we are responsible. I was quite upset about that. I don’t know what else I can say, I was pretty upset. It’s done and dusted now, nothing happened, there were no fines given or anything like that.” “I honestly told the umpires we have nothing to do with the condition of ball, except for the fact that Maharaj bowled five overs on the trot from that end. The ball generally scuffs up when the spinner bowls a few overs. I expressed my views about that and we move on,” he added.

When asked if he felt that the umpires implied that the visitors were had been engaging in ball-tampering, de Villiers replied: “Yes. That’s the feeling that I got and I expressed that I was quite upset about it. But like I said, no further steps were taken from both parties.”