MCC Breaks Silence On Controversy Around Akash Deep's Delivery To Joe Root, Says 'His Back Foot Appeared To...'

[rollingstoned]

MCC Breaks Silence On Controversy Around Akash Deep's Delivery To Joe Root, Says 'His Back Foot Appeared To...'

Akash Deep celebrates after bowling out England's Joe Root on Day 4 of the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham on July 5, 2025. Photo: AP

 

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the cricket's lawmakers, stated that address the controversy surrounding Akash Deep's ball that deceived Joe Root and cleared off his stump. The replay appeared to show Deep's back foot outside the return crease, raising doubts about the delivery's legality. Zooming in, nevertheless, showed that the delivery was lawful because the heel of his back foot had not hit the ground.

 

Jonathan Trott, a former cricket player for England who is now a commentator, had voiced concerns regarding the delivery that squared up Root. However, India's former head coach Ravi Shastri explained that third umpire Paul Reiffel did not step in since it was a fair delivery.

 

"On Day four of India's Test against England last week, there were questions raised about the delivery from Akash Deep, which bowled Joe Root, with some fans and commentators believing it to be a no-ball. While Deep landed unusually wide on the crease, and some of his back foot appeared to touch the ground outside the return crease, the third umpire did not call a no-ball. MCC is happy to clarify that this was a correct decision in Law," the MCC spokesperson said on the controversy around the dismissal.

 

Here's What MCC's Law 21.5.1 Says About Legal Delivery Stride

"For a delivery to be fair in respect of the feet, in the delivery stride the bowler's back foot must land within and not touch the return crease appertaining to his/her stated mode of delivery. MCC has always defined the moment that the back foot lands as the first point of contact with the ground. As soon as there is any part of the foot touching the ground, that foot has landed, and it is the foot's position at that time which is to be considered for a back foot no ball."

 

"Clearly, at the point Deep's foot first touched the ground, the back foot was within and not touching the return crease. Some of his foot may have touched the ground outside the crease subsequently - that is not relevant to this Law. At the point of landing, he was within the crease, and this was therefore rightly deemed to be a legal delivery," said MCC.

 

 

Deep became the second bowler from India to claim ten wickets In a Test match played in England. He helped India bowl out England for 271 in the second innings after taking six wickets. The visitors tied the series 1-1 after winning the Test by 336 runs.

 

Whining didn't stop after the loss, they began claiming this was a no ball. 

[Gollum]

Similar to Tait's ball that dismissed Sachin in 2011 WC QF. 

 

Anyway let these guys whine and cry, more pain loading for them. 

[Gollum]

Why do SENA folks whine all the time? Entitlement much? Can't stomach losing to brownies and darkies? 

Edited July 8, 2025 by Gollum

[Chaos]

3 hours ago, Gollum said:

Similar to Tait's ball that dismissed Sachin in 2011 WC QF. 

 

Anyway let these guys whine and cry, more pain loading for them. 

As long @Chaos baba is here, u r ok

[nevada]

8 hours ago, Gollum said:

Why do SENA folks whine all the time? Entitlement much? Can't stomach losing to brownies and darkies? 

It's a not so subtle strategy to put pressure on the umpires to err in their favour for the next games. 

[BacktoCricaddict]

31 minutes ago, nevada said:

It's a not so subtle strategy to put pressure on the umpires to err in their favour for the next games. 

Yep. You see that in the NBA and NFL all the time with coaches getting the refs' ears/faces and constantly whining about calls. Umps gotta be strong.

 

Added in edit: BTW, it's more fun when this kind of whining happens. Fire it up!!

Edited July 8, 2025 by BacktoCricaddict

[urbestfriend]

Are we stupid to equate one or two person's opinion to make it generic opinion of a country? 

[putrevus]

TBH, I also thought it was no ball after I saw those replays.

[BacktoCricaddict]

18 hours ago, urbestfriend said:

Are we stupid to equate one or two person's opinion to make it generic opinion of a country? 

Nah. But it adds to the fire and drama, and makes me want to turn the TV on at 6 AM ET tomorrow morning.

[raki05]

On 7/8/2025 at 11:05 AM, Gollum said:

Why do SENA folks whine all the time? Entitlement much? Can't stomach losing to brownies and darkies? 

Why the * mcc make all the law. Who gave them this authority.

[sage]

1 hour ago, raki05 said:

Why the * mcc make all the law. Who gave them this authority.

They gave themselves it when they invented the sport