Clarke says up to umpires to judge any ball tampering

Australian captain Michael Clarke has said that it is up to the umpires to deliver judgement on any ball tampering on the field, following the simmering ball tampering allegations against England at the ICC Champions Trophy.

England progressed to Sunday's final at the expense of South Africa but are still fuming that former Test bowler Bob Willis opened a can of worms by suggesting that players were deliberately tampering with the ball to create reverse swing.

According to the report, although Willis did not name the bowler, but bowler Ravi Bopara is widely known as the man in the England line-up chiefly responsible for working on the ball, News.com.au reports.

Although Clarke's stand-in George Bailey had said that he was 'very surprised' how quickly England had managed to reverse the ball maintained his scepticism that it was something for officials to keep an eye on, Clarke, however, said that he would leave the England matter up to the umpires, although he added that ball tampering should not be tolerated.

Stating that he has not taken any notice of any such occurrence happening, Clarke further said that if any incident affects the integrity of the game then it should not be allowed.

In their second Champions Trophy match against Sri Lanka, although umpire Aleem Dar changed the ball due to its condition, however England captain Alastair Cook maintained that the ball was changed because it was deemed out of shape, the report added.