The International Cricket Council (ICC) will take no action against England players for allegedly interfering with the condition of the ball during the third Test against South Africa at Newlands.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ICC said the umpires had viewed the footage of the incidents shown in television coverage on Tuesday and decided not to bring a charge against any player.
No official complaint was made by South Africa and the deadline for submitting such a complaint passed when play resumed on Wednesday.
An ICC media release stated: “The International Cricket Council confirms that it has received no official lodgment from South Africa team management laying a charge against any England player following reports of alleged breaches of Law 42.3 (changing the condition of the ball) on day three of the third Test between the two teams in Cape Town.” (more…)
For 36.2 overs and 101 runs, history appeared to be within England’s grasp, but the loss of three key wickets in the final hour of the fourth day at Newlands left South Africa firm favourites to complete a comfortable series-squaring victory in the third Test. By the end of a riveting session, England were floundering on 132 for 3, with Jonathan Trott and the nightwatchman James Anderson digging in for all they were worth. England’s victory target of 466, or 334 in 90 remaining overs with seven wickets still in hand, seemed a long, long way away.
England strongly denied ball-tampering claims after South Africa raised concerns about the issue with match referee Roshan Mahanama.
James Anderson and Graham Onions required just 17 balls on the second morning at Newlands to capture South Africa’s four remaining wickets, and hand England control of the third Test.
Graeme Swann picked up five wickets as England registered a comprehensive innings and 98 runs against South Africa.
Alastair Cook produced a performance of immense concentration to post his tenth Test century in his 50th appearance, while Paul Collingwood built on his matchsaving heroics at Centurion with a five-hour 91, as England’s batsmen hauled their side into a position of authority on the third day of the Boxing Day Test at Kingsmead. By the close, Ian Bell had cashed in on the platform laid by his team-mates with an important 84-ball 55, an innings that may have lacked the pressure of the performances that preceded it, but nevertheless was invaluable in securing a healthy 43-run lead with two days of the Test to come.
Alastair Cook gritted his teeth and bedded in for the long haul on the third morning at Durban, as he compiled a gutsy half-century to settle England’s innings after the early dismissal of his overnight partner, Jonathan Trott. Cook went to the break on 75 not out, having added 44 runs to his overnight 31 in an attritional session in which Kevin Pietersen was the other big wicket to fall, pinned lbw by Paul Harris while sizing up an ambitious sweep.
Dale Steyn is not a certain starter for the Boxing Day Test in Durban and expects an early decision to be made over his hamstring injury. The South African fast bowler was ruled out of the opening match at Centurion on the morning of the game, handing a debut to Friedel de Wet, who almost bowled South Africa to victory with 4 for 55 on the final day.
Paul Collingwood completed the job he had begun at Cardiff in the opening Test of the Ashes, and the No. 11 Graham Onions repelled a fiery final over from Makhaya Ntini, as England survived a massive collapse against the second new ball to cling onto a draw and move onto the second Test in Durban with the series still level.
Graeme Swann chiselled away with skill and diligence to claim a richly deserved five-wicket haul, but South Africa’s lower-order took the honours on an attritional second day at Centurion. They made light of the early loss of their overnight stalwarts, Jacques Kallis and JP Duminy, to grind out a competitive first-innings 418 on a pitch that offered little of the spice it had promised in the build-up to this match. By the close, England had overcome a jittery new-ball spell to reach 88 for 1 in reply, with Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott unbeaten in an 63-run stand for the second wicket.