Steve Smith: “There’s nothing in it”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Australia captain Steve Smith has downplayed speculation that he tampered with the ball during the third ODI against England in Sydney.

Television pictures showed Smith rubbing his mouth, which had lip balm on it, and then proceeding to do the same to the ball.

This prompted people to question whether the Australian skipper had altered the condition of the ball, but he insisted that there is no truth behind all the rumours.

“There’s nothing in it,” Smith was quoted as saying by the Belfast Telegraph. “People said something about lip balm but if you look at my lips they’re pretty dry, I certainly didn’t have any of that on.

“It’s just the way I get some spit into the side of my mouth and on to the ball.”

Australia went on to lose the match by 16 runs, which handed England an unassailable 3-0 series lead.