Sri Lankans hoping 'ball-tampering saga' does not result in falling foul with Australians
Sydney, Dec. 20 (ANI)
Sri Lankan coach Graham Ford is hoping that the ball-tampering saga does not create bitter and toxic divisions with the Australian camp in the wake of the controversial finale to the first Test in Hobart.
Ford said his troops had no interest in falling out with the Australians and risking the spite and angry counter-claims
that marred India's visit here five years ago.
"It (the tampering allegations) is all pretty fresh and with us today we are focusing on the job at hand," News.com.au
quoted Ford, as saying.
"We haven't even discussed it. Nobody likes to have a nasty incident and we certainly don't want any incident blown
out of proportion. We need to discuss things further and see how we go from there," he added.
Of the allegations against Australia, Ford said: "Honestly I didn't know too much, there was a bit around and at a
stage of the match the match-referee came to me and said they had noted an incident and had spoken to the Australian
team and not to worry any further about it."
"That's where it started, I'm going on hearsay but I believe the match-referee and third umpire noted something.
Further than that I really can't comment," he added.
Skipper Mahela Jayawardene, who came under attack yesterday as he tried to explain and justify Sri Lanka's
unofficial approach to Broad, said he is prepared to meet with Australia to sort out any differences, the paper said.
"Maybe we can have an unofficial chat about it with the players, but it is not a big deal," he said.