ICC breaks silence on ball change saga during final Ashes test after Aussies sought probe

In the 37th over of the final innings of the 5th Ashes Test, with Australia in a powerful position at 126/0, Usman Khawaja suffered a blow to his helmet, which also damaged the ball. However, the replacement ball provided to England was newer and shinier, catching the Australians off guard. As England's Mark Wood delivered the first ball with the fresh Dukes, they struck early, disrupting Australia's momentum. The ball change incident created a lot of frenzy with experts criticising the umpires' decision. 

3 things you need to know

• Australia retained the coveted Ashes trophy for 4th consecutive time
• England were 2-0 down in the series but made a good comeback
• England won the 5th Ashes Test by 49 runs to level the series 2-2

Also Read: 'I Walked Straight Up To Kumar': Usman Khawaja Slams Umpire Over Controversial Ball Change

ICC issues clarification on the ball change saga

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finally addressed the controversial ball change incident that took place during the final Test of the Ashes series at The Oval. Umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Joel Wilson faced criticism for their decision to change the ball after it struck Usman Khawaja's helmet. This decision drastically shifted the momentum in favor of England, who were able to capitalize on the new ball, leading to their victory.

[Australia's Usman Khawaja waits for another helmet after he is hit by the ball on day four of the fifth Ashes Test match; Image: AP]

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting expressed his frustration and demanded an investigation into the matter. In response to the incident, the ICC clarified the protocols surrounding the ball changes, stating that all balls are pre-selected before the start of every match. The match officials then choose the replacement ball that closely matches the condition of the ball being replaced.

"The ICC does not comment on the decisions taken by umpires in matches. We can, however, confirm that all balls are preselected before the start of every match and when the situation calls for it, the match officials choose the ball that is closest to the condition of the ball that is being replaced," Daily Mail quoted an ICC spokesperson as saying. 

Also Read: 'Disgraceful': Cricket World Fumes As England Gifted 'brand-spanking New' Ball By Umpires

However, the Australians disputed this explanation, as the replacement ball did not resemble the original one. Images shown by Sky Sports highlighted the stark contrast between the two balls. Consequently, Australia's hopes of securing their first Ashes victory in England since 2001 were dashed. By winning the 5th Ashes Test, England managed to level the series 2-2. Despite England's 49-run victory, Australia retained the Ashes urn thanks to their win in the previous series. 

Image: Channel 9