“I Walked Straight Up To Umpire”: Australia Star Fuels Ball-Change Controversy | Cricket News

Australia batter Usman Khawaja was left to rue a “frustrating” ball change which he believed performed a key position in England’s fightback to win the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval. The vacationers began Monday’s final day on 135-0, needing simply 249 extra runs to succeed in an imposing victory goal of 384. But England’s Chris Woakes struck twice early on, taking two wickets in seven balls as he eliminated each David Warner (60) and Khawaja (72) following their spectacular opening stand.

The ball seemed to be shifting considerably extra within the air and off the pitch than it had on the fourth day. And whereas overhead situations and a rain-freshened pitch could have performed their half in making batting situations tougher, a change of ball, caused when England quick bowler Mark Wood hit Khawaja on the helmet late on Sunday, could have been an element as properly.

In these circumstances, the on-field umpires are supposed to pick out a substitute ball in related situation to the one being discarded. But tv footage recommended the substitute ball was considerably newer than the outdated ball and that there didn’t seem like one in all equal put on and tear for the umpires to pick out from a field of substitute balls.

‘I do not know what is going on on’

“I walked straight up to Kumar (Dharmasena, the umpire) and said straightaway, ‘That ball looks nothing like the one we were playing with. I can see writing on it’,” Khawaja instructed cricket.com.au after Australia had been bowled out for 334 to present England a 49-run victory.

“It felt harder than any ball I’ve faced in this Ashes series — and I’ve opened the batting against the new ball every single time,” added Khawaja, the main run-scorer on both aspect within the five-Test marketing campaign with 496.

“I said, ‘I don’t know what’s going on — you’ve gone from an old, reverse (swinging) ball to a brand-new ball.

“Personally, I believe if there’s nothing else within the field that may match the ball you’ve got, you’ll be able to’t actually change it. It’s a bit irritating as a batting unit as a result of we labored our backsides off for 36 overs after which they modified the ball.

“As an opener you work so hard to get through to there and then you’re facing a new ball again.”

Khawaja added he hoped the International Cricket Council would be aware of what had occurred, including: “Unfortunately, that’s the hand you get dealt sometimes in cricket.

“It could not really feel honest, however hopefully the ICC can study from it and take a look at to have a look at that ball to vary the method.”

The drawn series meant Australia, as the holders, retained the Ashes. But a shared campaign left Australia still waiting for a first Ashes series win in England in 22 years.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting was in no doubt the ball change had played a decisive role at The Oval. “There isn’t any manner on the planet you’ll be able to even take a look at these two balls there and say in any manner they’re comparable,” Ponting told Sky Sports.

“That is a big second on this recreation. And one thing I believe must be investigated.”