By Angelo Mathews expressed his displeasure with the decision to replace the cricket ball during Sri Lanka’s second innings in the first Test against England at Emirates Old Trafford. He claimed that the replacement ball drastically impacted the game’s flow, especially since Sri Lanka was in a great position at 146 for 4, with Mathews himself on 59 not out at the time. The umpires allowed a newer, firmer ball to replace the worn-out original, which benefited the English bowlers, particularly Chris Woakes, who got Mathews’ wicket shortly after the change.
Well said Angelo Mathews. Not the first time this has happened with England.#ENGvSL pic.twitter.com/ciCbjdl4gF
— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) August 24, 2024
Rules for ball change
1. Each team starts their innings with a new red ball.
2. After 80 overs of play, the bowling captain can take a new ball.
3. If the ball is lost, broken, or discoloured, the umpires can replace it at any moment.
4. If a player improperly alters the state of the ball, the umpires can change it.
Mathews noted the irregularity of the ball-change rules, adding that the Sri Lankan squad was notified that no older balls were available for replacement. He underlined the need for explicit regulations to maintain fairness, saying, “You work so hard to get rid of that shine… Once the ball was changed, it was a whole different game” .His thoughts were echoed by former England international Ian Bell, who acknowledged the condition of the original ball but urged consistency in how such decisions are made for both teams throughout the series.
