The second test match between India and England which is being played at Lord’s has reached a very interesting position as India has taken a lead of 154 runs by scoring 181/6 in its second innings and only one day game is remaining in the match. While the Indians will like to give a good target to the hosts, the England squad will certainly like to win the test match and take a lead in order to prove its supremacy.
However, the English cricketers did something on the fourth day of the test match because of which many eyebrows were raised.
In the second session when Indian batters Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara were on the crease, the ball was seen under the shoes of English cricketers. As the cricketers wear spikes, there are good chances that condition of the ball can be changed by rubbing it with spikes.
As the photos went viral, many cricket fans and former cricketers including Aakash Chopra raised their voices and questioned as if an attempt to tamper the ball is being made.
Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag also noticed the pics and he took to Twitter to take a jibe at the English cricketers.
Viru wrote, “Yeh kya ho raha hai. Is it ball tampering by Eng ya COVID preventive measures” with laughing emoji.
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
On the other hand, the English pacer Stuart Broad who is not able to play in this series due to calf injury has been speaking in support of his teammates and saying that it is not intentional. In response to a fan’s question as if why the umpires didn’t take notice of it and why the ball was not changed even if it was not intentional, Stuart Broad wrote that ball does not need to be changed if it is not damaged and the same thing applies when the ball is hit for the six in the stands.
Stuart Broad’s reply read, “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?”
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
Twitter users also called it ball tampering and this is how satirically cricket fans reacted on the incident:
#1
England players after getting caught pic.twitter.com/pc6b8nqtAT
— g0v!ñD $#@®mA (@rishu_1809) August 15, 2021
#2
Using foot to pick up the ball is: pic.twitter.com/v4UFtToyJy
— Ana de Armas stan (@abhithecomic) August 15, 2021
#3
— Nishant Sharma (@srcsmic_enginer) August 15, 2021
#4
Eng unki harkato se par nahii aayegi😡😡 pic.twitter.com/YUUe9uxxfa
— Adv Harsh Acharya🇮🇳 (@HarshAcharya07) August 15, 2021
#5
— Sachin Singh (@itssachinsingh) August 15, 2021
#6
Looks like they are cleaning the ball and spikes are helping to remove the dirt. 😀
— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) August 15, 2021
#7
Khel khatam AUS ki hawa lag gayi😂 pic.twitter.com/Q229DaZT0Z
— श्रीकांत पाटील…🇮🇳 (@shrikant8291) August 15, 2021
#8
https://twitter.com/kshitijshah23/status/1426914855840190471
#9
https://twitter.com/AbdullahNeaz/status/1426920605111099395
#10
Ball tampering technique.
This is what happens when Pujara keeps blocking.
Poor England 🤪
— Indian 🇮🇳 (@ShivamOswal) August 15, 2021
#11
https://twitter.com/david_ki_kahani/status/1426915528807833606
#12
https://twitter.com/AbdullahNeaz/status/1426919165428846592
#13
Steve Smith be like:#ICC #balltampering #IndvsEng pic.twitter.com/mDhiJgKaOB
— Chirag Lakhina (@chiragastic) August 15, 2021
#14
@ICC @BCCI @ECB_cricket
This needs to be investigated.Hope some actions will be taken against the culprits, if found guilty. This happened twice . It seems no less than sand paper incident of Australian cricket team.— Ritesh Pandey🇮🇳 (@itsiritesh) August 15, 2021
#15
https://twitter.com/MitPatel1977/status/1426915607065382914
What is your take in this whole episode? Let us know.
