Proteas management slams Warner for 'sour grapes' comments on 'ball scuffing'

The South African management has slammed Australian opener David Warner for his comments questioning whether the hosts were acting within the limits with scuffing of the ball in their second Test victory, which was secured with devastating reverse swing bowling.

Warner said that his team would seek clarification from umpires over South Africa, especially batsman AB de Villiers, potentially overworking the ball, at Port Elizabeth.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, South African team manager Mohammed Moosajee was furious with Warner's comments, which come ahead of the series-deciding clash at Newlands starting on Saturday and four months after the Proteas were embroiled in a ball-tampering saga.

Expressing disappointment at Warner's comments, Moosajee said that Warner's remarks take the gloss off a great South African performance, adding that it reeks of 'sour grapes' and could be a tactical plan to get the hosts involved in matters that will distract their attention from the crucial Test in Cape Town.

Moosajee further said that no one ever takes anything said by Warner seriously, adding that he would leave it to the ICC to look into Warner's remarks.

The report mentioned that Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel unleashed a day four reverse-swing masterclass in Port Elizabeth, inflicting a collapse of 9-62 en route to a series-levelling victory.

In October, Proteas batsman Faf du Plessis was fined 50 per cent of his match fee in a nine-wicket win over Pakistan for rubbing the ball near the zipper of his trouser pocket, the report added.