JOIN USAustralia opener David Warner’s claim that South Africa tampered with the ball during the second Test has “added 10 percent motivation” ahead of the series decider, Proteas coach Russell Domingo said on Wednesday.
Warner told Sky Sports Radio the Australians felt AB de Villiers had used his wicketkeeper gloves to rough up one side of the ball, helping their bowlers gain reverse-swing during South Africa’s crushing 231-run victory on Sunday.
“We were actually questioning whether or not AB de Villiers would get the ball in his hand and, with his glove, wipe the rough side every ball,” the left-hander told Sky Sports Radio.
“That's another thing we have to try to bring up with the umpires.”
Domingo dismissed the comments and said it gave his side extra motivation to claim a first home series win over Australia in 44 years in the decider at Newlands starting on Saturday.
“It's disappointing when guys throw these accusations around, it's added an extra 10 percent motivation to the guys following the comments he has made,” Domingo told reporters.
“We pride ourselves on playing the game as hard as we can, but also in a fair manner. I just don't think it is a nice comment to make, I don't think teams should be accusing other sides of that.”
Proteas manager Mohammed Moosagee also rejected Warner's complaint as “sour grapes” and said few people took the outspoken Australian's words seriously.
“David Warner's remarks are disappointing and discouraging. It takes the gloss off a great Proteas team performance, having come back from losing the first Test and then going on to win the next,” Moosagee told South African newspaper DFA.
“It smacks of sour grapes and it could just be a tactical plan to get us involved in matters that will distract our attention from this crucial test in Cape Town,” he said.
Turning to Australia's bowling, Domingo said South Africa had mastered Mitchell Johnson after restricting the quick to three wickets in the second Test.
Johnson blitzed the opposition batsman as he took 12 wickets for 127 runs in Australia's impressive 281-run victory on a lively wicket in the first Test in Pretoria.
However, his wickets came at over 40 runs each in Port Elizabeth, where the slower pitch took much of the venom out of his deliveries. He also failed to find the reverse-swing that Dale Steyn used to rip through the Australian batting lineup on Sunday.