'What would we say if it was Pakistan?'

"Ball-tampering? That's astonishing" © Getty Images Enlarge

Related Links News : Stuart Broad 'astonished' by tampering charges News : Strauss brands tampering claims 'malicious' News : De Villiers reignites tampering row News : No official complaint over Broad footwork In Focus: Ball-tampering Players/Officials: James Anderson | Stuart Broad | Andy Flower | Nasser Hussain | Andrew Strauss | Michael Vaughan Matches: South Africa v England at Cape Town Teams: England | South Africa

"There was quite clearly a piece of leather off the ball after he'd [Broad] stepped on the ball and it's not the first time it happened."
South Africa's AB de Villiers sparks off the controversy

"It was close to 40 degrees Celsius out there in Newlands at the time, and, if I was guilty of anything, it was just laziness in not bending down to pick up the ball. Ball-tampering? That's astonishing."
England bowler Stuart Broad is offended and bemused by the accusation

"To be caught up in suggestions of ball-tampering was a huge disappointment. It led to a lot of comment and cast a shadow over me and Stuart Broad when we'd done nothing wrong except be a bit absent-minded and lazy."
Co-accused James Anderson seconds the argument

"The lads have been very skilled and put in a lot of hard work with Ottis Gibson to become better reverse-swingers of the ball."
England opener Alastair Cook says it's all above board

"What Stuart Broad did there is not something you'd do if you wanted to alter the shape of the ball - because, just as easily, your stud could go in the shiny side and ruin your chances of swinging the ball."
Broad could have mucked up a ball-tampering operation if he had used his boot, Andrew Strauss believes

"I think over the years we have seen a lot of tall fast bowlers stop balls with their feet so I don't see anything sinister in it all."
England coach Andy Flower has a practical explanation

"Stuart Broad and James Anderson were wrong to behave in the manner they did and I've no doubt that if a player from another country did the same we'd have said they were cheating."
Former England captain Nasser Hussain has no sympathy for the bowlers

"England have been caught and we have to hold our hands up. They were thinking they were smart but they've been very silly... What would we say if it was Pakistan?"
Former England captain Michael Vaughan is equally cutting

"There was enough in the footage to suggest that an inquiry was worth making and if the bowlers in question had been Pakistani you could bet that most opponents would have been asking directions to the referee's room."
The Sunday Times' Simon Wilde also brings up the Pakistani question

"With play on day four of the match having resumed, the deadline for submission of such notification has now passed."
The ICC considers the matter closed

"If you've played international cricket, you'll shrug your shoulders at these allegations. We all know that it goes on all the time. The stigma in the public is far greater than the crime that's been committed."
Former England captain and current television commentator David Lloyd can't see what the fuss is all about