England insist Test win was untainted

Stewart and Lloyd were unaware of any wrong-doing

England are adamant they beat South Africa at Headingley two years ago "fairly and squarely" despite allegations that the Test match was fixed.

Ali Bacher claimed in his testimony to the King Commission of inquiry into match-fixing on Monday that Pakistan umpire Javed Akhtar was being paid by a Karachi bookmaker around the time of South Africa's fifth Test defeat at Headingley.

Bacher, the managing director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, alleged that Akhtar gave nine of the 10 lbw decisions in the series decider.

Bacher claims a bookmaker he called Mr R revealed: "The umpire was on the payroll," and that one of Karachi's biggest bookmakers had flown to Leeds a few days prior to the Test to ensure that his "client" complied.

But England captain at the time, Alec Stewart said if there was any wrong-doing the team were unaware of it.

We won that match fairly and squarely and decisions went against both sides

Alec Stewart

"We won that match fairly and squarely and decisions went against both sides - I was very pleased and proud to win that match and with it the series," he said.

Michael Atherton and Andrew Flintoff were both vicitims of dubious umpiring decisions in the Test.

David Lloyd, England coach at the time said: "All I would say to these allegations is look at the tape of the match and it is quite clear that we knew nothing about what is supposed to have gone on.

"We drew at Old Trafford by the skin of our teeth and then won at Trent Bridge and in front of a big crowd at Headingley and in my opinion, we won that series fairly and squarely.

If there was any skulduggery going on, then it was nothing to do with England

Former England coach David Lloyd

"Decisions went against both sides during that game from what I remember - all you have to do is ask Andrew Flintoff what he thought of one of the decisions made against him.

"If there was any skulduggery going on, then it was nothing to do with England. From my whole time as England coach, the one moment that gave me the most satisfaction was that series win over South Africa because it was bloody hard cricket.

"I know what the players went through in the dressing room during that summer and there is no doubt in my mind that every wicket and every run was earned fairly and squarely."