Willis Accuses England of Ball Tampering

Former England fast bowler Bob Willis has sensationally suggested that England were guilty of 'ball tampering' during the Champions Trophy defeat to Sri Lanka, a claim that One Day Coach Ashley Giles has strongly denied....

Willis told Sky Sports after the match "Aleem Dar (the onfield umpire) is on England's case. He knows that one individual is scratching the ball for England - who I am not going to name - and that's why the ball was changed."

But that claim was quickly put down by Giles who said "We don't tamper with the ball, can we talk about something else"

"There are a lot of headlines about the wrong stuff. The ball was changed because it had gone out of shape."He concluded at his press conference ahead of the winner takes all clash with New Zealand in Cardiff.

It came about as one of the two balls used in the game, was changed by Dar and fellow umpire Billy Bowden in the 26th over of the match at the Oval, which Sri Lanka won by seven wickets.

England had just got the ball reverse swinging, and Willis was keen to put his point on how the England's bowlers were getting movement from a ball that was in theory only 13 overs old.

With enemies like this in the commentary box though, who needs friends!!