JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 06, Norman Gordon and Fanie de Villiers during the 100th birthday celebrations for South Africa’s and the world’s oldest living test player Norman Gordon at the Longroom at the Wanderers Stadium on August 06, 2011 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Duif du Toit / Gallo Images)
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 06, Norman Gordon and Fanie de Villiers during the 100th birthday celebrations for South Africa’s and the world’s oldest living test player Norman Gordon at the Longroom at the Wanderers Stadium on August 06, 2011 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Duif du Toit / Gallo Images)
Former Proteas pace-bowler Fanie de Villiers was known for his quick deliveries. But it seems like his quick wits have played a part in exposing the ball tampering scandal at Newlands.
As reported by SA Cricket Mag, De Villiers was in attendance for the third Test. A cameraman caught Aussie opener Cameron Bancroft altering the condition of the ball using yellow tape, and the fallout from the incident has been nuclear
But how big of a role did Fanie have in bringing the Australian players to book? Comments he made to RSN radio suggest that he tipped off the beady-eyed cameraman, who caught the now-infamous footage of Bancroft rubbing the ball with a concealed object.
How Fanie de Villiers caught Australia ball tampering:
“I said earlier on that if they could get reverse swing in the 26th, 27th, 28th over, then they are doing something different from what everyone else does.”
“We actually said to our cameramen, “go out [and] have a look, boys. They’re using something.They searched for an hour and a half until they saw something and then they started following Bancroft and they actually caught him out at the end.”
“It’s impossible for the ball to get altered like that on cricket wickets where we knew there was grass on, not a Pakistani wicket where there’s cracks every centimetre. We’re talking about a grass-covered wicket where you have to do something else to alter the shape.”
Will Steve Smith stay on as captain?
De Villiers’ extensive knowledge of the Newlands pitch and how a swinging ball is meant to behave put the Aussies to the sword. After being caught out, Steve Smith received a one-match ban and full match fee fine.
However, the skipper could be in for a further world of trouble. He’s facing calls from Down Under to relinquish the captaincy, and take a step down from any form of leadership in the team.
