England has been accused of tampering with the ball to gain an advantage on the fourth day of the Melbourne test match.
Commentators called out suspicious tactics the team’s bowlers and fielders appeared to be using to scuff one side of the ball so it would swing.
Captain Joe Root and bowlers Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson were all involved in a tense discussion with umpire Sundaram Ravi.
Anderson was seen cleaning the ball with his thumb and appearing to dig the nail into the seam, which raised the eyebrows of commentators
Ravi later had a long chat with Root following the morning drinks break that was suggested to be about the team’s treatment of the ball.
Anderson was seen cleaning the ball with his thumb and appearing to dig the nail into the seam, which raised the eyebrows of commentators.
‘That’s interesting, you can’t get your nail into the ball. That’s a no-no,’ former Australian opener Michael Slater said.
Spin legend and fellow Channel 9 commentator Shane Warne agreed: ‘I’m not sure you are allowed to use your fingernail there.’
England players were also observed throwing the ball into the ground as they returned it to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, or trying for run outs that had to chance of success.
‘That’s interesting, you can’t get your nail into the ball. That’s a no-no,’ former Australian opener Michael Slater said
Captain Joe Root and bowlers Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson were all involved in a tense discussion with umpire Sundaram Ravi
The widely-used but very frowned upon tactic uses the abrasive centre-wicket block to help rough up one side of the ball to get reverse swing working.
Fielders can argue it was a wayward return but the excuse doesn’t work as well when they’re close in.
Former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson suggested this was exactly what England was doing, calling them out on Twitter.
‘Ball reversing under 10 overs,’ he wrote, followed by an emoticon of a face stroking its chin, before firing up when a fan accused Australia of doing the same.
‘No problem with the ball being thrown at the stumps by both teams as long as that’s all it is! Wouldn’t have thought the ball could reverse so quickly. Oh well,’ he replied.
‘Are you saying it’s okay to tamper with the ball? I can tell you buddy, I never tampered with the ball no matter what the situation.’
England players were also observed throwing the ball into the ground as they returned it to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, or trying for run outs that had to chance of success
Former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson suggested England was scuffing the ball to get reverse swing earlier in the innings, calling them out on Twitter
Alyssa Healy, an Australian women’s cricket star and niece of commentator Ian Healey, replied to Johnson’s tweet in agreement.
‘Might be a few fines handed out tomorrow evening,’ she wrote.
Former test batsman and Sydney Thunder Twenty20 team director Michael Hussey said Anderson in particular may be asked to explain himself to the match referee.
‘It didn’t look great, to be honest. There might be a little bit of a ‘please explain’ there for Jimmy Anderson,’ he said via Cricket Australia.
‘The English have been throwing the ball into the ground to try and scuff one side up, but that’s nothing the Aussies weren’t doing either and the umpires are generally on top of that pretty quickly.
Former players said Anderson in particular may be asked to explain himself to the match referee
Alyssa Healy, an Australian women’s cricket star and niece of commentator Ian Healey, replied to Johnson’s tweet in agreement
‘But certainly getting a thumbnail into the ball is against the rules. It’ll be interesting to see what happens and if anything plays out there.’
The same issue cropped up during last summer, when South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis was given a rebuke from both umpires at the WACA.
Umpires Aleem Dar and Nigel Llong spoke with du Plessis at length during the first Test, unhappy with the tourists’ sloppy returns.
England have already lost The Ashes 3-0 and are trying to gain some pride by winning or drawing this match and next week’s fifth test in Sydney.