Nasser Hussain has criticised India’s request for a ball change after the second new ball had been taken just over 10 overs previously at Lord’s.
The Dukes ball has been under scrutiny throughout the series, with both India and England complaining about its inability to retain shape for long periods. There have been several instances of a ball change request, even as early as the 14th over of England’s second innings at Leeds, leaving both camps frustrated at how quickly the ball has been going out of shape.
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The theme continued even in the Lord’s Test, where India were left unhappy with the new ball they were offered after the 80th over. India, who opted for the second new ball after 80.1 overs on Thursday, only bowled 2.5 overs with it on day one, getting the ball to move around.
On Friday, India got off to a flying start, as Jasprit Bumrah sent back Ben Stokes, Joe Root and Chris Woakes in the space of 12 deliveries. Jamie Smith was troubled early on, too, getting a life after KL Rahul at slip failed to latch on to an easier catch. He survived a few close calls as well and nearly chopped on, as Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah got the ball to move both ways.
Ball changed twice within 20 overs of new ball
However, complaints about the quality of the ball started emerging in the 91st over, and their request was granted as a replacement ball was given to them. However, the India fielders didn’t seem pleased at the “new” ball they were given, with Siraj caught on the stump mic questioning the umpire: “This is 10-over-old ball? Seriously?” The commentators also wondered whether the ball was at least 17-18 overs old, with Nasser Hussain questioning India’s tactics.
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Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “It was a very odd ball change from India. There's two reasons you change a cricket ball. One is because the umpires think it's gone out of shape, or two, because the bowling attack and the captain realise that the ball is doing nothing and you try and get the umpires to change it.
“The ball was doing everything this morning. The ball they had, for 63 deliveries, was zipping round corners. Bumrah was going through a magic spell. Siraj at the other hand was having catches dropped. The ball was carrying through to the wicketkeeper. It was doing everything. It was doing more than at any stage in the Test match.”
England, who were 287-7 before the second new ball had been changed, raced away to 316-7 in 98 overs, with India’s repeated attempts at another ball change going unheard. They got their wish in the 99th over, when the ball was changed again. However, before their second appeal was heard, India, led by skipper Shubman Gill, were seen having animated chats with the on-field umpires about the Dukes, prompting pundits to question whether India had been distracted by it.
Nasser Hussain: Repeated requests for ball change were bizarre
“I cannot work out why you'd want to change a ball that was doing this much, sixty-three deliveries of the ball zipping round,” the former England skipper continued. “Not only did they want it changed, but the captain got really animated when they didn't change it. I thought it was one of the most bizarre decisions.
"You've got a ball in your hand that's doing a lot. We all know these Dukes balls are variable. He's still on the umpire about the ball change. Now maybe he's having a word with the umpires about, 'this ball isn't as good as the last one'. But that's the problem with trying to change the ball, which is that if you've got a good one, stick with it. I thought it was a really odd thing for a) India to do and then b) to get really animated and now c) to say, well, the ball we got is no good. Don't change the good one.”
England headed to lunch at 353-7 in 105 overs, going at 4.71 runs an over in the first session on Friday.
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