A controversial ball change during the first Test between them England and Sri Lanka It sparked a heated debate with the Sri Lankan veteran Angelo Mathews He expressed his displeasure with what he described as a decisive and “unfair” decision. The incident happened during Sri Lanka’s second innings at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester. Sri Lanka tour of England 2024and proved to be the decisive moment in the match.
Ball change controversy flares up during England vs Sri Lanka match
Trailing after their first innings, Sri Lanka looked set to put up a strong fight with Mathews. Kamindu Mendisestablished a strong partnership. The pair effectively contained England’s bowling attack, reduced the sheen of the ball and put Sri Lanka in a comfortable position. However, the match took a dramatic turn when England were awarded a substitution, a move many including Mathews saw as unfair.
The immediate change of the ball had a serious impact on the game. Well established at the crease with 65 runs, Mathews was dismissed soon after the new ball was introduced. England took advantage of the renewed movement created by the new ball and turned the game in their favour. The sudden change of pace was ultimately the key to England’s five-wicket victory.
Also READ: Twitter reactions: Joe Root shines in England’s upset win over Sri Lanka in Manchester Test.
Speaking to Test Match Special ahead of the fourth day’s play, Mathews expressed his disappointment over the incident, citing it as a turning point in the match.
“To be honest, unfortunately it happened. Yesterday, we were sitting pretty until the ball was changed, which I think might be unfair to the batsmen in both teams as the batsmen want to get rid of the hard, shiny ball. Once we reached the point above 48, we were playing them with ease” he noted.
Mathews explained how the new ball completely changed the dynamics of the game.
“After the ball was replaced, the entire momentum changed. He swung both ways and came back, which made it incredibly difficult for us. The changers are waiting to get rid of the stiffness of the ball and unfortunately the change came when it did. It really changed the game.” he added.
Despite strong resistance from Sri Lanka, England’s bowlers found new life with the new ball and this played a vital role in their recent victory. The win was an important win for England as they claimed the first Test in the three-match series.
The ball-tampering controversy has now overshadowed an otherwise exciting contest. Many critics have raised concerns about the consistency of ball substitution decisions and how such calls can strongly influence the course of a match. Although the decision is in England’s favor this time, there are questions about the fairness of the situation for both teams.
