LONDON: Alastair Cook has revealed England’s players were ‘curious’ about Australia potentially engaging in ball-tampering during the recent Ashes series.

Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were hit with long suspensions by Cricket Australia after they plotted to use sandpaper on the ball in their third Test with South Africa last month.

The shamed trio claimed that was their first instance of ball-tampering.

But the spotlight has now been put on the Ashes, with television footage since emerging of Bancroft putting sugar in his pocket.

Australia’s consistent ability to get reverse swing had England’s bowlers scratching their heads during their 4-0 series defeat.

Cook was part of the England side and he admitted on Tuesday that there were questions among his squad about the third Test in Perth.

Asked at a Chance to Shine event in Tunbridge Wells whether England suspected Australia of ball-tampering during the Ashes, he said: “Yes a little bit, certainly in Perth when the outfield was wet with rain they got the ball reversing.

“I didn’t see anything. We have been pretty good at managing the ball to see if we can get it to reverse swing but then there’s the thing with the quicker you bowl the ball it reverse swings more.

“That was the thing in 2005, we had Simon Jones and Freddie [Andrew Flintoff] who were quicker than the Australian bowlers.

“We have to be very careful, we were curious at certain moments but then we couldn’t get the ball up to 90mph where they consistently could.”

Australia’s actions in Cape Town were widely criticised, with Smith and Warner both receiving year-long suspensions.

Cook insisted that should be a timely reminder for the game to be played in the right way.

“It’s not for me to comment on punishment, but the whole thing is a reminder that people want to see,” he said.

“It’s the same with cycling, that whoever is playing that people play in a fair way. If you try your hardest and there’s no external things that you win or lose that way.

“It’s amazing the public outcry for that. Sometimes with the pressure of playing, and it is so important to you and it’s your livelihood, sometimes winning or losing can overtake things.

“It’s wrong for everyone to sit in the cold light of day and criticise because people do make mistakes.”

Cook, meanwhile, expressed his desire to keep playing for England but is aware that he must continue scoring runs to hold on to his spot.

The 33-year-old, who made his England debut in 2006, has scored more than 12,000 Test runs at an average of 45.73 but his inconsistent spell during the recent tour of Australia and New Zealand have raised questions about his longevity.

Cook scored a total of 23 runs in the two-Test series against New Zealand last month as England continued their winless run following their 4-0 defeat in the Ashes.

“My job never changes,” Cook said. “It’s to score runs at the top of the order. If someone taps me on the shoulder and tells me they don’t want me to open for England, it is going to hurt at this precise moment because I want to carry on.

“The hunger and desire is still there but no one has a God-given right to play for England. You have to score the runs to justify your place. Since I’ve come home I’ve started to look at my preparation.

“Have I got it right? Do I need to change things? Because that’s the right way to do it. I will never sit here and say I’ve cracked the game or will ever be perfect.” Cook was set to play for first-class county side Essex against Hampshire on Friday in the domestic championship as he fights to make his mark and earn a call-up for England’s two-match home Test series against Pakistan in May.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2018