The England strike bowler James Anderson has rejected claims from former captain Bob Willis that the ball was tampered with during a Champions Trophy match against Sri Lanka last week.
Willis, who is now a television commentator, said umpire Aleem Dar's decision to change one of the two balls after 25 overs of the Sri Lanka innings was made because the ball had been scratched to assist the bowlers and not because it had gone out of shape.
His comments were endorsed by David Lloyd, another former England player who is also now a television commentator.
The allegations were denied by England one-day coach Ashley Giles and Anderson told the Mail on Sunday newspaper that Willis' comments were an unwelcome distraction adding no one in the England team has ever tampered with a ball.
