Mike Denness has spoken out to explain that he did not charge Sachin Tendulkar with tampering with the ball during the second Test between India and South Africa at Port Elizabeth. "Tampering seems to be the instant word that everyone wants to use," Denness is quoted as saying in the Hindu newspaper. "Tendulkar was punished not for tampering with the ball, but for failing to call up an umpire to supervise his attempts to clean the ball."

Denness's comments are at odds with his earlier, official statement released through the ICC which stated that Tendulkar had been punished for "alleged interference with the match ball, thus changing its condition".

"I have been terribly saddened for the game of cricket," Denness added. "If someone says you have got your decisions wrong and they can justify it you can have a discussion and you can learn from it."

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