'Unlikely but not impossible': Investigation launched on 5th Ashes ball swap controversy

The Ashes 2023 series between England and Australia witnessed many controversies which includes the ball swap incident during the Day 5 of the fifth Ashes 2023 Test. During the 37th over of Australia's second innings, a short ball from English pacer Mark Wood hit directly on Khawaja's helmet. The English players went complaining to the umpires, that the ball has lost its shape and it seemed to be a dud ball. The players' request was approved by the umpires and they replaced it by saying by it was the only ball left in the box.

3 things you need to know 

• The Ashes 2023 series was drawn by a margin of 2-2 
• England won the fifth Ashes 2023 Test by a margin of 49 runs
• Australian opener Usman Khawaja heavily criticised the umpire's decision of swapping balls 

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Investigation to be launched against ball swap controversy: Reports  

(Match officials change the ball on the last day of 5th Ashes Test during the Australian innings/ Image: Channel 9)

Amidst the controversy over the ball swap incident during the fifth Ashes 2023 Test, an investigation has been launched against the ball replacement saga. As per a report by News Corp, there are rumours that the English cricket team was handed over a Dukes ball from the 2018 series which later proved to be a nightmare for the Australian batters. 

Dukes' chairman in a conversation with NewsCorp said that it was not possible that a ball from the 2018-19 lot found its way into the box of the fifth Ashes 2023 Test. 

I can’t imagine they would risk putting a ball in there with a different date on it. Frankly the match referee should be on top of it. We do bang that number in quite hard, so even if the gold comes off the ball is imprinted. It wouldn’t be easy to get rid of it. I’m not saying it’s impossible (it was a 2018 or 2019 ball), but it’s not likely.

What was the whole ball replacement saga? 

The Australian cricket team was cruising at 135/0 at the end of Day 4 during the fifth Ashes 2023 Test against England. Openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner were steady at the crease and had already survived the difficult opening spell of English pacers Stuart Broad and James Anderson. 

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The Aussies continued from their overnight score of 135/0 on Day 5 and also were favourites to chase down 384 runs. However, during the 37th over of the Aussie innings, Usman Khawaja was hit on the helmet by English pacer Mark Wood which further prompted the umpires to call for a new ball. As per the rules of Test cricket, a ball can only be changed after 80 odd overs, however, if any case if the ball gets damaged before the designated 80 overs then it can be changed with the other ball of similar condition. 

The new Dukes ball started to swing and the English pacers reaped off a major benefit from it. The hunt for wickets also ended and it was opener David Warner who was dismissed for a score of 60 runs off 106 balls during the 42nd over whereas his partner Usman Khawaja also didn't last long at the crease and was caught in front by Chris Woakes for 73 runs off 145 balls.