Picture Credit: X
England dismantled the Sri Lanka lineup to seal a comfortable victory in the opening Test of the three-match series at the Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester by five wickets to go 1-0 up in the series. While the game had its own turns, Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews have called out the hosts and the umpires on a ball change controversy that erupted with visitors looking dominant at one point of time.
Mathews, who was Sri Lanka’s top-scorer on Day 3 of the first Test, added that rules need to be more rigorous in regard with ball replacement in Test matches after seeing the hosts opted to change the ball for the second time. The incident took place after the 41st over of Sri Lanka’s second inning with the umpires, Chris Gaffney and Paul Reiffel agreeing with the hosts to swap the Duke ball.
It looked like they were running out of plans: Angelo Matthews on ball change controversy
Soon after a firmer ball was brought in, the prized wicket of Mathews came in 10th over after the ball change, reigniting the Ashes 2023 ball change controversy. It is to be noted that a similar incident had occurred during the Ashes last year where a five-year-old ball was used.
"It looked like they were running out of plans but unfortunately the ball was changed," Angelo Mathews told Sky Sports before the start of the fourth day's play. "We were told they didn't have old enough balls to replace. It changed the entire momentum of the game. You work so hard to get rid of that shine, and we did that. Once the ball was changed, it was a whole different game," he continued.
“I don’t know which year the balls were. You’ve got to have a set of rules where you determine how the ball is going to be changed… I really don’t know, but it can be really disadvantageous for the batters,” he further added, calling out for stricter rules for the same.
While it was first Test victory for Ollie Pope as England captain, it was also the first time since 2013 that England has won the first four Test matches of the home season. The two nations, England and Sri Lanka will next take on each other in the second Test, which will commence from August 29 at the iconic Lord’s in London.
