Usman Khawaja-Led Australian Cricket Fraternity Slams 'Disgraceful' Moment That Turned The 5th Test In England's Favour
Published - 01 Aug 2023, 12:51 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 09:27 AM
The Australian cricket fraternity is crying foul over England gaining crucial advantage from a a fortuitous ball change on day five of the fifth and final Ashes Test between England and Australia at The Oval.
Australia were slightly ahead in the contest when the final day of the series began. Set a target of 384 runs, David Warner and Usman Khawaja had given the visitors a solid start by sharing an unbeaten stand of 135 runs for the first wicket on day four. The duo, however, could not last long on day five.
The Australia openers could add only five runs to the overnight score before departing in a space of one run as England reduced the visitors to 141 for 2 from 140 for no loss. And as both the openers departed in quick succession, the Australian cricket fraternity claimed the change of ball played a key role in it.
On the fourth day when Australia were on 126 for no loss, the umpires decided to change the ball after Khawaja copped a nasty blow to the helmet while facing Mark Wood. While the rule is to have a like-for-like replacement for the ball, many alleged that England got a newer ball. The allegations only increased after the England pacers started getting swing straightaway after the ball was replaced.
“It certainly looks a lot newer than the one they changed from,” Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting said on Sky Sports. “Look at how much writing is on the side of that ball … that is a huge contrast to the conditions of the two Dukes balls.”
Here is that ‘new’ ball in question #Ashes pic.twitter.com/XVAYUGPMjk
— Josh Schönafinger (@joshschon) July 31, 2023
Australia cricket fraternity slams ball change:
England went on to win the game by 49 runs. The hosts bowled out Australia for 334 runs to draw level in the series. And with the change in ball coinciding with the shift in momentum, many believe that the umpires’ decision made things easier for England.
“This ball change has made an enormous difference,” former England batter Mark Butcher said. “The (new ball) looked brand-spanking new.”
Former Australia batsman Callum Ferguson called the decision disgraceful as he told Channel 9: “I think it is actually disgraceful they have allowed a ball this new into the game at the stage they did. It made it very difficult.
“Those two balls are so, so different. That’s almost a new ball. They might as well unwrapped a new one. I find it staggering they ended up with that ball,” he added.
Even Khawaja could not stop himself from expressing his disappointment over the ball. The Australia star stated that he sensed that the new ball was very different and was not a like-for-like replacement.
“As soon as they changed that ball, I knew straight away that ball was very different,” Khawaja said.
“I went up to (umpire Kumar Dharmasena) and asked, ‘How old this ball? It feels like it’s eight overs old.’ You could see the writing both sides, and it hit my bat so hard. I’ve opened the batting in every single innings this Ashes series, and I haven’t felt a ball hit my bat as hard as that ball. I said to the boys coming in, ‘Be careful, this new ball is going to be tricky’,” he added.
“Some things you can’t control in this game, and it’s disappointing for us because it felt like we had a real stranglehold on that game. That ball was at 90 overs and it was still hooping around corners and the keeper’s taking it above his head. It really hurts you. England is a class bowling attack, and if you give them a little inch, they will always get as much out of it,” said Khawaja who finished the series as the highest run-scorer.
Also Read: ENG vs AUS: Ricky Ponting Missed His Flight Home To Witness Thrilling Final Day of Fifth Ashes Test
