 The umpires examined the ball after Broad's impromtu footballing display
|
England coach Andy Flower has defended Stuart Broad after controversy with the ball on day three of the third Test.
Broad was seen trapping the ball with his foot during a difficult day, which saw South Africa build a lead of 330.
A South Africa spokesman said they had "raised concerns" to match referee Roshan Mahanama over the issue.
But Flower said: "All that happened is the ball was rolling gently towards him and he stuck out a boot to stop the ball, I don't think it's a big issue."
The South African spokesman said: "There have been several queries from the media about various video footage shown, and certain allegations being made about the ball.
"We have raised our concerns with the match referee about it and we've left it to him to decide if any further action or investigation is necessary."
Flower, however, insisted there was no case to answer.
"The umpires and match referee haven't approached us," he said." Of course our door is always open but they haven't said anything about it."
Looking ahead to the remaining two days he added: "We've got a lot of fight in that dressing room and they are going to have to show it out in the middle for the next two days.
"The heat is without a doubt a factor, it takes its toll on bowlers and fielders alike but I thought our guys worked very hard, kept their discipline, worked hard in the field to the last ball of the day and we're going to have to do that for the next two days."
England's three seam bowlers failed to take a wicket on day three, with both strikes made by spinner Graeme Swann, and the decision to field only four specialist bowlers has come under close scrutiny.
"You will always want to believe your seamers could do more when the opposition is 300-2 so they'll be disappointed not to have made more of an impact," the coach admitted.
Asked whether he regretted the selection policy, Flower said: "I don't like living my life like that. It's the way we've gone into the three Tests so far, sometimes you have to take the rough with the smooth.
"It is a huge challenge because there is such a lot of time left in the game that it is going to take a huge effort from us to save the game.
"We've got the new ball first thing in the morning, we'll attack with that and try to get some wickets, that will follow the trend of the first three days.
"If we can't do that it will be about restricting them then batting very well, and our batsman are going to have to stand up and be very strong over the next two days.
"I wouldn't say it will be impossible but the one thing that's certain is the pitches have constantly surprised even the locals so far in the three Tests.
"We don't know exactly how it's going to deteriorate in the next two days so we will assess conditions as and when they arrive."
- viagra soft tabs
- cheap finasteride - order generic propecia online
- buy cilais without prescription
- fertility drugs without prescription
No comments:
Post a Comment