The International Cricket Council (ICC) has clarified its position on the ball-change controversy that marred the final Ashes Test between England and Australia at The Oval. The ICC said that the match officials followed the protocol of choosing the ball that was closest to the condition of the ball that was being replaced.
Australia unhappy with ball change
Australia were chasing 368 runs to win the fifth and final Ashes Test and level the series 2-2. They were well placed at 141 for 2 when the umpires decided to change the ball after 36 overs. The new ball was shinier, harder and more conducive for swing bowling than the old one. Australia complained that the new ball was not a fair replacement and that it gave an undue advantage to England.
The change of ball proved to be a turning point as Australia lost eight wickets for 77 runs and were bowled out for 318, handing England a 49-run victory and a 3-1 series win. Australia’s captain Steve Smith said that he was “disappointed” with the ball change and that it “definitely had an impact” on the game.
Ponting and McGrath slam umpires
Australia’s former captain Ricky Ponting and former fast bowler Glenn McGrath were among those who criticised the umpires for changing the ball. Ponting said that there was a “big discrepancy” in the condition of the two balls and that the new one resembled a new ball rather than an old one.
He said on Sky Sports: “The biggest concern I have is the big discrepancy in the condition of the ball that was chosen to replace. There’s no way in the world you can even look at those two balls there and say in any way are they comparable. If you are going to change the ball, you want to make sure that you get it right, so it is as close as you possibly can to the one that you’re changing it from.”
McGrath said on BBC Test Match Special: “I’m not happy with that at all. That looks like a brand new ball. That’s ridiculous. That’s not a fair contest between bat and ball.”
ICC defends umpires
The ICC, however, defended the umpires and said that they followed the established procedure of pre-selecting balls before every match and choosing the closest one when required.
A spokesperson for the ICC said: “The ICC does not comment on the decisions taken by umpires in matches. We can, however, confirm that all balls are pre-selected before the start of every match and when the situation calls for it, the match officials choose the ball that is closest to the condition of the ball that is being replaced.”
The spokesperson also said that there was no provision for teams to challenge or appeal against a ball change.
The controversy has sparked a debate among cricket fans and experts about whether there should be more transparency and consistency in ball changes. Some have suggested that teams should be allowed to choose their own replacement balls or that there should be a standardised way of measuring the wear and tear of balls.
England celebrate historic win
Despite the controversy, England celebrated their historic win over Australia, which was their first Ashes series victory at home since 2005. England’s captain Joe Root said that he was “proud” of his team and that they showed “great character” throughout the series.
England’s fast bowler James Anderson, who took four wickets in Australia’s second innings, said that it was a “special feeling” to win the Ashes at The Oval. He also praised his bowling partner Stuart Broad, who took three wickets and finished as the leading wicket-taker of the series with 32 scalps.
England’s batsman Ian Bell, who scored 187 runs in England’s first innings and was named as the man of the match and the man of the series, said that it was a “dream come true” to win three Ashes series in a row. He also said that he was “honoured” to receive both awards and thanked his teammates for their support.
