Warner blames excessive 'ball scuffing' by Proteas for prodigious 'reverse swing'

Australian opener David Warner has said that his team would seek clarification from umpires over South Africa, especially batsman AB de Villiers, potentially overworking the ball, implying that excessive ball 'scuffing' may be behind South Africa's fast bowlers' superior ability to bowl reverse swing.

Ahead of the third and deciding Test at Cape Town, Warner believes that South Africa's ability to swing the old ball was one of the major differences between the two teams as the hosts levelled the series 1-1 with a 231-run victory in the second Test.

According to News.com.au, Warner said that Australia would push to make umpires aware of the South African wicketkeeper potentially overworking the ball, adding that they questioned as to whether or not De Villiers would get the ball in his hand and with his glove wipe the rough side during every delivery.

Stating that South Africa threw the ball into the wickets better and more obviously than Australia did despite umpires' warning, Warner however, admitted that they too had worked on the ball against England and got it reversing in Australia, although he added that it did not work for them in South Africa due to a probable moist outfield.