The Ashes 2023 ended with England winning the final test and equalling the series 2-2. However, Usman Khawaja, the Australian opener, has voiced his discontent over the ball change that played a pivotal role in England’s comeback during the fifth Ashes Test at the Kia Oval. Usman Khawaja called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to review the ball change process going forward.
Usman Khawaja and David Warner were Cruising when this Happened
Usman Khawaja and David Warner were making steady progress in their pursuit of a challenging 384-run chase, with a first-wicket partnership of 140 and both batsmen notching half-centuries. However, a ball change in the penultimate over of the penultimate day led to a significant shift in fortunes.
During a Mark Wood bouncer, Khawaja was struck on the helmet, necessitating a concussion test, and causing damage to the ball as well. A replacement box of balls was introduced, but as England made inroads on the final morning, Usman Khawaja and several Australian pundits raised concerns that the “new” ball was swinging considerably more and appeared to be in better condition than the original ball.
Ricky Ponting, the former Australian captain, criticized the umpires’ choice of replacement, and Khawaja revealed that he immediately raised the issue with the umpires.
“I walked straight up to Kumar [Dharmasena], I said that ball is nothing like the one we’ve been playing with,” Khawaja said after England secured a 49-run victory. “It felt harder than any ball I’ve faced throughout this whole Ashes series, to be honest, and I’ve opened the batting against the new ball every single time.”
Usman Khawaja continued to express his concerns the following day, suggesting that if a suitable alternative was not available, England should have been compelled to continue with the old, damaged ball.
Australia lost three quick wickets on the fifth morning, including Khawaja’s, and although Steve Smith and Travis Head managed to rebuild, a quick burst of four wickets in four overs from Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes put England back in control. Khawaja believes that the ball change was the cause of both mini-collapses.
“It’s a bit frustrating as a batting unit because we worked our backsides off for 35 or 36 overs or whatever it was when they changed the ball,” he said. “As an opener, you work so hard to get through there and then you’re facing a new ball again.”
Usman Khawaja’s remarks have brought attention to the controversial ball-change incident and may prompt further scrutiny from cricket authorities.
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