Australia’s fortunes on the final day of the Ashes have swung dramatically after a controversial ball change suddenly added plenty of venom to England’s attack.
Former Test captain Ricky Ponting was furious in commentary for host broadcaster Sky Sports at umpires Joel Wilson and Kumar Dharmasena.
Ponting said whenever a damaged ball needs to be changed, the umpires are supposed to select the one in the box of options which most resembles the one being replaced.
But they have clearly failed to do that this time around with close-ups comparing the two Dukes six-stitchers showing the old one looking scuffed up and the new version appearing to be much shinier.
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“It certainly looks a lot newer than the one they changed from. That is a huge contrast to the conditions of the two Dukes balls,” he fumed.
Former Australian batter Callum Ferguson described it on Nine commentary as a “disgraceful” situation and said it was staggering that two professional umpires could approve the selection of such a different ball.
Ian Healy added that it has started “seaming and swinging” since the umpires made their controversial choice.
Former England batters Mark Butcher was laughing in Sky Sports commentary at the dramatic difference when viewing a close-up of each ball, describing the replacement as looking “brand spanking new” even though it was supposed to replicate one that was more than 36 overs old.
The ball change was made with 11 deliveries remaining on day four when opener Usman Khawaja was struck on the helmet by a Mark Wood thunderbolt.
After they had struggled to get any movement at all for 38 overs on day four as the Aussies racked up 135 runs without loss, the English seamers had the ball hooping around early on day five with three wickets falling inside the first hour.
David Warner nicked Chris Woakes to keeper Jonny Bairstow on 60 before the same bowler trapped Khawaja in front to end his innings on 72.
Marnus Labuschagne made just 13 before edging a Wood outswinger to Zak Crawley at second slip as Australia finished the first hour of play at 3-175 in pursuit of the victory target of 384 to seal a first series win in England since 2001.
The local bowling had been so bening on the fourth day that former England captain Geoff Boycott in the UK Telegraph said “it was ominous that England could make no headway”.
Chris Woakes celebrates the wicket of Usman Khawaja. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
“I bet England are ruing, even cross with themselves, for the late-order batsmen the day before who got themselves out – Woakes, Ali and Wood for giving their wickets away. There have been collapses and there always will be when you’re chasing totals but from what we witnessed today, England didn’t look like getting a wicket.
“They are clutching at straws. Something dramatic has to happen to get England over the line.”
Even though they cannot regain the urn, England are looking to force a 2-2 series draw by winning the final Test at The Oval.
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