Team India have reportedly voiced their dissatisfaction with the ball-change protocol ahead of the fifth Test against England, scheduled to begin on Thursday, July 31, at The Oval. According to The Indian Express, the Indian team approached the ICC match referee following the ball controversy that unfolded during the third Test at Lord’s.
The Indian management raised strong concerns, pointing out that England were allegedly allowed to choose a replacement ball of their liking at the start of the Lord’s Test. Additionally, the report mentions that during England’s first innings, the second new ball lost its shape after just 10 overs.
India unhappy with replacement ball given during third Test
The replacement provided to India was reportedly around 30–35 overs old, which the visitors believe significantly impacted their performance. According to the protocol, any replacement ball should match the wear and age of the original. However, the umpires reportedly told the Indian team that no such ball was available in the inventory.
“At Lord’s, after about 10 overs, the Dukes ball lost its shape, something that has been happening so often in the series. The ball failed to pass through the rings that the umpires carry on the field to check if the ball is uniformly spherical.”
“However, the umpires didn’t have a ball that was 10 overs old, so the Indian team at a crucial moment of the match got a ball that was 30-35 overs old,” an official was quoted as saying by Indian Express.
The Indian team then requested to continue with the original ball, but their request was denied.
“When you ask for a ball change, you aren’t told about the age of the replacement you will be getting. At Lord’s, we weren’t told that the replacement would be 30 to 35 overs old. If we were told, we would have continued with the deformed ball that was used for 10 overs. The ICC needs to intervene. This rule needs to be changed,” the official added.
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