Proteas skipper De Villiers 'stokes' England ball tampering suspicions ahead of CT semi with hosts

Amid the ball-tampering suspicions that are currently clouding England's ICC Champions Trophy campaign, South Africa captain AB de Villiers stoked the fire by admitting that England seemed to reverse swing the ball more quicker than other teams, which may be a possible concern.

England, who play South Africa at The Oval on Wednesday, are having trouble escaping from the shadow of suspicion although no official evidence about the remotest wrongdoing has been offered and no reports have been made, the Independent reports.

According to the report, the faintest whiff of interfering with the natural state of the ball tens to bring out calls of outrage about the game's moral decline, adding that cricket was always a batsman's game.

De Villiers further said that England's controversial skill with reverse swing would be looked into by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the umpires to find out why they manage to get the ball reverse quicker, and also if they are doing something illegal with the ball.

However, De Villiers admitted that there is no proof that England had tampered with the ball, adding that the Champions Trophy hosts may just have good skills in their bowling line-up.

According to De Villiers, although his team's bowlers have also tried to copy England's skill with reverse swing, they have not managed to succeed, adding that they will, however, keep on trying to find the skill to reverse swing the ball.

The report also said that all teams try to gain an advantage and reverse swing, with the immediate potency it brings, is obviously beneficial.

The suspicions arose after England managed to be good at reverse-swinging at Edgbaston against Australia, and failed to do so at The Oval against Sri Lanka.

When England captain Alastair Cook complained about the umpires changing the ball and former cricketer and sport expert Bob Willis later said that the umpire Aleem Dar was on England's case the tampering floodgates opened wide, the report added.