Flower stands firm over ball management

ANDY FLOWER is unrepentant about England’s management of the ball, despite South Africa’s transitory suspicions that tampering might have been afoot during the third Test.

The tourists emerged with a nerve-jangling draw on Thursday – courtesy of the defiance of Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood and finally number 11 Graham Onions – in a match beset by controversy then concluded in drama.

South Africa voiced their concerns, publicly and with match referee Roshan Mahanama, on the third evening at Newlands after Stuart Broad had stopped a straight drive with the sole of his studded boot and James Anderson had been spotted running his fingers over the ball.