Rhodes defends de Villiers

Jonty Rhodes has defended AB de Villiers after he was criticised for wrongly claiming a Andrew Strauss catch.

AB de Villiers celebrates after taking a catch to dismiss the England batsman Ian Bell in the second Test at Headingley.

JOHANNESBURG // The former South African Test player Jonty Rhodes has sprung to AB de Villiers' defence after England captain Michael Vaughan accused him of cheating for claiming a catch that hit the ground first during the second Test. De Villiers had claimed the catch of Andrew Strauss but later said that he had gone up to the captain and said, "he was not sure." By that time, the decision was referred to the third umpire after Strauss stood his ground. "When a player dives forward, he can truly believe he has caught the ball when it is claimed so close to the ground," Rhodes said adding that he knew De Villiers was "a player of integrity."

"You may have caught something and be under the impression that you took it after you dived forward. It can happen very, very easily and it doesn't mean that you are trying to cheat anyone." * PA Sport