London: An controversy erupted during the second session of the second Test between India and England at the Lord’s when two cricketers were caught on camera rubbing the ball in the grass with their shoes.
The incident took place in the 35th over of the Indian second innings, bowled by Ollie Robinson. The video of two English players, whose face was not captured in the footage, showed stamping the ball and rolling it around on the ground with their spikes.
It quickly grabbed attention as people on Twitter started questioning the England team, ‘Is this another way of ‘ball tampering’, whether this ‘kind of activity was allowed?’.
Former India openers Virender Sehwag and Aakash Chopra were quick to tweet their concern among other fans. “Yeh kya ho raha hai (What is happening here). Is it ball-tampering by Eng ya covid preventive measures”, tweeted Sehwag.
Yeh kya ho raha hai.
Is it ball tampering by Eng ya covid preventive measures 😀 pic.twitter.com/RcL4I2VJsC— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 15, 2021
Meanwhile, Chopra also wrote, “Ball tampering, eh? #EngvInd”.
Ball tampering, eh? #EngvInd
— Wear a Mask. Stay Safe, India (@cricketaakash) August 15, 2021
However, England fast bowler Stuart Broad, who is sitting out the Test series owing to a calf injury, came to the defence of his teammates. As several users in Twitter questioned England’s integrity, Broad provided an explanation of what happened.
My comments are- Woody tried to nut meg Burnsy by tapping the ball through his legs (a very common occurrence) & he missed and kicked the ball there by accident. Instead of screenshotting the pic, watch the video- quite plain & easy to see
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) August 15, 2021
Depends If it was damaged? Exactly the same if it was hit into the stands. If it didn’t make a mark, why change it ?
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) August 15, 2021
Broad replied to a few more tweets asking him to explain the England players’ actions. “As I’m sure you’re aware form watching the full footage- it wasn’t deliberate was it. End of Story,” he said.
As I’m sure you’re aware form watching the full footage- it wasn’t deliberate was it. End of Story
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) August 15, 2021
However, no such development can be confirmed as no complaint has been made by the Indian team management to match referee Chris Broad. The matter hasn’t escalated and the ball remained unchanged.
