Angelo Mathews: Replacement ball 'changed the entire momentum of the game'

[Tillu]

 

Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka's top-scorer on day three at Emirates Old Trafford, says that more rigorous rules need to be enforced regarding replacement balls in Test matches*, after England found themselves on the right side of a ball change for the second time in as many Test summers,

 

 

After the 41st over of Sri Lanka's second innings on day three of this first Test at Emirates Old Trafford, standing umpires Chris Gaffaney and Paul Reiffel agreed to the hosts' request to swap out a raggedy Dukes ball. At the time, Sri Lanka were 146 for 4, nursing a slender lead of 24, but with Mathews not out on 59 and Kamindu Mendis on 33.

 

 

A firmer ball with a prouder seam brought the quicks back into the game. The prized wicket of Mathews came in the 10th over with the replacement ball as the veteran was squared up by Chris Woakes and caught at gully to end the fifth-wicket stand on 78.

 

 

"It looked like they were running out of plans but unfortunately the ball was changed," 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."

 

 

Though England would only go on to take one more wicket before the close, they did create a host of chances with the replacement ball. Mathews (on 65) and Kamindu (39) were dropped by Joe Root and Gus Atkinson at first slip and gully respectively, both off the bowling of Matthew Potts. The extra movement into the left-handers also saw two lbw decisions go in Woakes' favour, only for reviews to find inside edges from Milan Rathnayake and Kamindu, who remained unbeaten overnight on 56.

 

 

Coincidentally, Woakes was also the main beneficiary of last season's controversial ball change during the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Kia Oval, which turned a tense final innings England's way to secure a 2-2 series draw. Australia opener Usman Khawaja queried the switch to a newer, harder ball at the time, which did not reflect the one that had been in use for the previous 37 overs.

 

 

 

Ricky Ponting went as far as to call the change "a huge blunder that needs to be investigated". Dilip Jajodia, the owner of British Cricket Limited, the company which manufactures the Dukes ball, vowed to investigate the complaints himself while attempting to quash theories that a five-year-old replacement ball might have been used.

 

 

"I don't know which year the balls were," Mathews added. "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."

 

 

Ian Bell, Sri Lanka's batting coach on this tour, struck a more conciliatory tone at stumps on Friday. "[It is] unfortunate, but the team are in good spirits," Bell said. "I don't think they worried too much about that or are moaning about that. I think it's about accepting that and trying to put as many runs on tomorrow to put England under a bit of pressure in the last innings.

 

 

"The lights did come on. The clouds rolled over. And that's the beauty of playing cricket in England - you have to adapt to conditions. But again, England put the ball in the right areas.

 

 

"In England that can happen. All you ask for is that [it] is consistent for both teams. I know we tried to change it a couple of time in the first innings, but they didn't. But the seam did look pretty awful on that last ball, and unfortunately, you have to accept in these conditions a ball change can swing around."

 

 

 

England centurion Jamie Smith, who had a good gauge on the new ball from his position as wicketkeeper, echoed Bell's sentiments. He also credited Woakes for making the best use of conditions.

 

 

"It's hard to gauge because once the ball was changed, the overheads came into play and the lights came on, and it sort of coincided with both factors. If there's one man to exploit them conditions, it's Chris Woakes. Any extra zip, it's him who was going to find it."

 

ESPNcricinfo

Edited August 25 by Tillu

[Ultimate_Game]

This is a pattern with England. They did the same with West Indies recently, and it happened against us as well. If England doesn't get a wkt for almost a session, or if batting team is scoring quick runs against them, you can guarantee that England will push umpires to change balls. Against WI they changed the ball as many as 4-5 times till they found one which did something.

 

And it's always England which gets new balls gifted to them. Their opponents, especially the Asian teams never get the same benefit of doubt, and never get the balls changed coz that allows Eng to play "Bazball". The more you see England, it's less Bazball and more "home umpiring"

[Tillu]

Why are umpires giving new balls in place of the old balls. And these hypocrites lecture others on the spirit of cricket nonsense.

[jf1gp_1]

1 hour ago, Tillu said:

Why are umpires giving new balls in place of the old balls. And these hypocrites lecture others on the spirit of cricket nonsense.

You guys just cant shed typical 3rd world mentality. First they are allowing a team from sub-continent to play in England, then being gracious host, they let the match become competitive finally they replace a crappy old ball with new yet you mental midgets keep cribbing. 

[Gollum]

Blatant cheating. Then they talk about spirit of cricket.

[Gollum]

Lankans robbed here, story of every home series in Eng. Even Aussies were robbed, what chance do browns/blacks have?

[Bigg Brother]

Despite the cheating they have atrocious record at home. Give away test matches to Pakistan,SL frequently, Can't dominate Australia like Aussies do and smash Poms to oblivion at their home. Mediocre test team. 

[Prabhdeep Singh]

Broad & Anderson have cheated for years using this same tactic.

 

Angelo did a great job calling this out during a televised interview.

[cowboysfan]

didnt they do this in the Ashes? a pattern of cheating has been established.they also seem to make substandard Duke balls now so that they have a chance  to change the balls.

[Ultimate_Game]

6 hours ago, cowboysfan said:

didnt they do this in the Ashes? a pattern of cheating has been established.they also seem to make substandard Duke balls now so that they have a chance  to change the balls.

 

Yup they did the same in Ashes series too. Essentially they go for some time without taking a wkt and then start asking for new ball. And at home, they get these new balls too.

[neel roy]

Honestly if you have to blame blame an Indian. Dilip Jajodia. The founder and owner of Duke balls. Its his product which is creating the mess. 

[Prabhdeep Singh]

They also use different batch for themselves, for example they 2018 batch opposition use newer batch which swing and seam less

[Chaos]

@Tillu oraiiiii

[Ultimate_Game]

1 hour ago, neel roy said:

Honestly if you have to blame blame an Indian. Dilip Jajodia. The founder and owner of Duke balls. Its his product which is creating the mess. 

 

I don't think it's a product thing. How come the same "product" works pretty well for the opponent and they can bowl with the same ball throughout without any problem but in case of England it needs to be changed?

 

And the English ball changes are inversely proportional to the success they have with the ball. If they're picking wkts, no ball changes, and if they struggle, they pester the umpire for changing balls every other delivery. It's almost like "there has to be something wrong with the ball as we're not able to pick up wickets"

[Number]

8 hours ago, Prabhdeep Singh said:

They also use different batch for themselves, for example they 2018 batch opposition use newer batch which swing and seam less

Really ? That is shocking.

I thought all the balls are placed in one box with the match referee and both captains choose one ball from the box.

 

Edited August 26 by Number

[Ultimate_Game]

1 hour ago, Number said:

Really ? That is shocking.

I thought all the balls are placed in one box with the match referee and both captains choose one ball from the box.

 

 

Apparently there're different boxes

[Number]

20 hours ago, Gollum said:

Lankans robbed here, story of every home series in Eng. Even Aussies were robbed, what chance do browns/blacks have?

Agree but I have no sympathies with the Aussies. Their main culprits of sandpaper gates were their pacers and they didn't face any consequences. Who knows what they did before that or they may be upto new tricks after that.

That ball from Starc to KL in WC finals, haven't seen anyone reversing a white ball like that after 2 new ball rule.

[Number]

24 minutes ago, Ultimate_Game said:

 

Apparently there're different boxes

This is news to me. Shocking if true.

[Ultimate_Game]

49 minutes ago, Number said:

This is news to me. Shocking if true.

 

Known trick by England. When even Aussies find something shady, it shows how bad things are...

https://7news.com.au/sport/cricket/ricky-ponting-sheds-new-details-on-ball-change-drama-during-fifth-ashes-test-at-the-oval-c-12099590

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/cricket/news/ashes-ball-change-replace-new-ball-fifth-test-ricky-ponting/eni9fhcpmhb84hiy4nlmxvso

 

[rkt.india]

15 hours ago, Ultimate_Game said:

 

Yup they did the same in Ashes series too. Essentially they go for some time without taking a wkt and then start asking for new ball. And at home, they get these new balls too.

If the ball loses shape, it has to be changed. Blame the ball maker, not them.