AB de Villiers upset about query from umpires regarding ball condition during 2nd ODI

South Africa skipper AB de Villiers said he was pretty upset when the umpires asked him to explain the ball’s condition during their clash against England. The two umpires standing during the 2nd ODI approached de Villiers before the start of the 34th over. While speaking to Rob Bailey and Chris Gaffaney, AB de Villiers seemed animated.

Following a lengthy conversation, South Africa weren’t given a new ball, and AB de Villiers felt that the umpires had blamed the South African players for having scuffed up the ball. De Villiers later came out to share his disappointment at the outcome of the incident.

“The umpires felt the condition of the ball changed, 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,” de Villiers shared.

“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 moved on,” he added.

AB de Villiers was then asked if he thought the umpires’ decision to stick to the ‘damaged’ ball implied that the South Africans had been engaging in ball-tampering, to which he 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.”

“If I can give my five cents, I felt it was a bad ball and that happens sometimes. The leather comes off and you do get that. Unfortunately, the umpires didn’t agree. [But] nothing happened, generally there’s a warning or a fine, none of that happened, which tells me they realized we were innocent in this case,” AB said.

From the opposite camp, Eoin Morgan mentioned that his team was not aware that the umpires had made any suggestion regarding the ball being scuffed up. “Normally, if there’s any dispute about the ball, they change it straight away,” he said.

Earlier incidents of ball-tampering by South Africa

Although this was a minor issue, South Africa came under the scanner in 2016 for altering the condition of the ball during a Test match against Australia in Hobart. The Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis had a mint in his mouth when he was applying saliva to the ball. However, former cricketers came in support of du Plessis saying its a normal practice to have a mint in the mouth while applying saliva.

In 2013 however, the scenario was different, as Faf du Plessis pleaded guilty to a charge of ball-tampering. He confessed that he indeed tried to alter the condition of the ball while rubbing it near the zipper of his trousers.

England’s Mark Wood bowled a disciplined 50th over while defending 330 to take his team to a thrilling 2 run victory, and in turn secured the three-match series as well.