'Unperturbed' Oz bowling coach to encourage bowlers to copy English reverse-swing in Ashes

Australian bowling coach Ali de Winter is set to encourage his troops to copy England's methods of gaining reverse swing during the Ashes, despite the suspicions of ball-tampering that has erupted against the England squad in the ICC Champions Trophy.

Suspicions about the techniques used to engender reverse swing have simmered since the English were accused of using saliva laced with glucose, from sucking mints, to keep one side of the ball smooth and shiny during the 2005 Ashes, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

The report further said that Australian stand-in captain George Bailey and South African skipper AB de Villiers raised eyebrows at England's ability to make the ball reverse earlier than other teams during the Champions Trophy.

However, De Winter seems to be unperturbed by the suspicions, stating that he believes that the 'mysterious' art will be important at Trent Bridge, venue of the first Test, and at the Oval in the series finale, adding that he will try to see if Australian bowlers can use the method better than the English.

Terming England's ability of reverse-swing as making the ball 'go Irish', De Winter also said that he will ensure that the Australian squad incorporates the method as soon as they can as reverse swing will play an important role towards the back end of the games.

According to De Winter, although the Australian pace attack is more suited to conventional bowling than reverse swing, they, however, will be trying the method if the conditions are dry, as widely speculated, adding that he is not too concerned with England's reverse-swing attack as it would be fielded by the Australian batsmen.

Stating that he did not think that England is guilty of ball-tampering, De Winter said that particularly in one-dayers, where the umpires get the ball back after every over, it is difficult to do anything untoward with the ball, although he added that Australia tries to keep the ball in a few hands as possible despite not having a designated ball-handler.

Stating that England's methods of aiding the ball's 'natural' deterioration were legal, an analyst said that they are more forensic than any other team in caring for and buffing the smoother side of the ball, polishing it like a precious ornament and keeping it 'scrupulously dry'.