On the third day of the first Test between England and Sri Lanka at Emirates Old Trafford, a controversial ball change in Sri Lanka’s second innings has drawn criticism from commentators and players. The incident occurred after the 41st over when the umpires, Chris Gaffaney and Paul Reiffel, agreed to England’s request to replace a worn-out Dukes ball. At the time, Sri Lanka were 146 for 4, with a slender lead of 24 runs, and their veteran batter Angelo Mathews was well set on 59, alongside Kamindu Mendis on 33.
The new ball, which had a prouder seam, immediately made an impact. England’s bowlers, led by Chris Woakes, capitalized on the increased movement, with Woakes claiming the crucial wicket of Mathews for 65 in the 10th over with the replacement ball. Although England managed only one more wicket before stumps, they created several chances, including dropped catches and close LBW calls, thanks to the extra swing and movement the new ball provided.
This incident has sparked comparisons to a similar controversy during the fifth and final Ashes Test of the previous summer, where a ball change also appeared to benefit England, leading to their series-leveling victory against Australia. Commentators Kumar Sangakkara and Nasser Hussain pointed out how the new ball disadvantaged the well-set Sri Lankan batters, and raised concerns about the fairness of such changes.
Despite the controversy, Sri Lanka’s batting coach Ian Bell, a former England international, acknowledged the challenging conditions but did not express significant concerns over the ball change. He emphasized the importance of consistency in future decisions. England’s Jamie Smith also noted that the change in weather conditions, including the onset of lights and overcast skies, contributed to the ball’s effectiveness, praising Woakes for exploiting the conditions well.
As the match progresses, England’s focus will also be on the fitness of fast bowler Mark Wood, who experienced discomfort in his right thigh during his 11th over. Wood’s injury led to an over being completed by Joe Root, who took a wicket with his second delivery. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal, who was earlier hit on the thumb by a delivery from Wood, returned to the crease after X-rays revealed no fracture, and resumed his innings, ending the day with a lead of 82 runs for Sri Lanka. (Newswire)
The post Ball change criticized for swinging momentum in England’s favor appeared first on Newswire.