Sri Lanka batter Angelo Mathews called out the ‘unfair’ ball change by the England team on Day 3 of the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester. Notably, England won the match by five wickets on Day 4 after they chased down 205 in the fourth innings.
A particular moment on Day 3 turned out to be game changing for the hosts as their request for a ball change after the 41st over of Sri Lanka’s second innings was accepted by on-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Paul Reiffel. The game was at a crucial juncture with Sri Lanka on 146/4 having a lead of 24 runs with Mathews (59*) and Kamindu Mendis (33*) at the crease with an unbeaten stand of 51 runs.
However, the ball change worked wonders for England as they managed to end the fifth wicket partnership on 78 getting Mathews caught at gully for 65. Commenting on the change, Mathews said that England seemed to be running out of plans but the ball change changed the entire momentum.
“It looked like they were running out of plans but unfortunately the ball was changed. 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,” Mathews told Sky Sports ahead of play on Day 4.
Further speaking ahead, he called the move unfair for batters of both teams and mentioned that they were comfortably playing them before the change.
“It was unfortunate, to be honest. Yesterday we were sitting pretty until the ball was changed. I think it could be unfair for batters on both teams, because the batters want to get rid of the hard, shiny ball, and once we got to the 48-over mark, I think we were quite comfortably playing them,” he added.
England managed to take just two wickets before the close of play on Day 3 but their bowlers got massive help with the changed ball which was dancing to their tunes. Meanwhile, earlier during the Ashes 2023 a similar ball change controversy came to light on the final day of the fifth Test at the Oval as England managed to run through the Australian batting lineup after the ball change.
