No official complaint from SA

Cape Town - South Africa will not lay an official complaint against England after allegations of interfering with the ball surfaced on the third day of the third Test at Newlands.

GALLERY: SA v England

Team spokesperson Michael Owen-Smith said before the start of the fourth day's play on Wednesday that the matter would be left in the hands of match referee Roshan Mahanama.

Owen-Smith told journalists on behalf of Mahanama that the International Cricket Council would be issuing a statement from the organisation's headquarters in Dubai later on Wednesday.

If South Africa had lodged a formal complaint Mahanama would have been compelled to hold a hearing into the matter. Interfering with the condition of the ball is against the laws of cricket.

Television pictures captured fast bowler Stuart Broad stopping, then stepping on the ball with his spikes, while fellow fast bowler James Anderson appeared to be manipulating the seam.

According to Owen-Smith on Tuesday, the South African team had raised its concerns with Mahanama.

England coach Andy Flower told journalists on Tuesday evening he was unaware of any controversy and said he believed his bowlers had gone about their business "very honestly" and their ability to gain reverse swing, particularly during the team's win in the second Test in Durban, was achieved through skill and not any illegal methods.

The footage of the Broad incident was shown repeatedly on South Africa's pay television channel and the England camp awoke on Wednesday to a banner headline across the front page of the local Cape Times newspaper: "Ball tampering furore."

English newspapers meanwhile reported that the suggestions of foul play had infuriated the England camp. The Daily Telegraph reported that England were "furious" while The Sun claimed that captain Andrew Strauss and coach Flower were "angry".