Captaincy debut top-notch victory for South Africa who win a Test in Galle for the first time. They dominated from Day 1 and never took their foot off the peddle. The seamers took the wickets on a pitch supposed to be a graveyard for them! The one question mark from this Test would be about Imran Tahir though. He was ineffective on a pitch which should have suited him. But South Africa it is time you played like gentlemen the gentlemen’s game. Philander was charged with an article 2.2.9 offence of the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to “changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3 of the Laws of Cricket, as modified by ICC Standard Test Match, ODI and Twenty20 International Match Playing Conditions clause 42.1”. The incident that led to this charge took place in the afternoon of 3rd day when Philander was captured on footage changing the condition of the ball by scratching the surface with his fingers and thumb. It is mind boggling why this was not aired during live coverage, but viewed by the umpires after the close of play. Would this have assisted fast bowler Dale Steyn in the devastating spell of reverse swing late in the day to reduce Sri Lanka for 9-283 at the close of day 3 ? South Africa seam bowler Vernon Philander has been fined 75 per cent of his match fee for ball tampering and he has gladly accepted the penalty without contest. After all who cares the damage has already been done towards Sri Lanka and South Africa has benefited and no ban imposed on Philander. Philander is the second South African found to have tampered with the ball after Faf du Plessis pleaded guilty to doing so last October during a Test against Pakistan in the UAE. South Africa hope you will play the next test match in the right spirit and Sri Lanka Selectors time to wear the thinking hats on cannot be carrying passengers any more, money rules the world. Take a leaf from South Africa’s book victory at any cost.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 16:27:15 +0000