Former England pacer Steve Harmison slammed Indian captain Shubman Gill for opting to change the second new ball after just 10 overs of use. Harmison expressed disappointment that the decision was made without consulting Jasprit Bumrah, who was swinging the ball superbly.
Ball Change Backfires as England Capitalize to Reach 387 at Lord’s
The Duke ball controversy took center stage again as India used the second new ball for just 3 overs before stumps on Day 1. On Day 2, Bumrah struck early, removing Ben Stokes, Joe Root, and Chris Woakes within the first 10 overs using that same ball.
However, in the 91st over, Mohammed Siraj expressed dissatisfaction with the ball's condition and spoke to Shubman Gill. That led to a heated exchange with the umpires, resulting in a ball change. Gill was unhappy with the replacement and asked for another, causing further delay.
The move backfired. Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse put together a solid partnership, steering England to a strong total of 387, well above par at Lord’s.
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Harmison Blasts India’s Ball Change Call: “No Sympathy at All”
Harmison didn’t hold back in his criticism.
"I've got no sympathy for India at all. Why change it? Jasprit Bumrah got it swinging around the corners. Mohammed Siraj didn't even throw the ball to Bumrah or ask his opinion. The ball was doing a lot. I've got no idea why India decided to change it," Harmison said on-air (via Sportskeeda).
He further noted:
"The ball was doing all sorts. They had just picked up three wickets, and then it was an absolute implosion. Gill stopped trying to get Jamie Smith out, set a defensive field, and now they had an older ball. Within 10 minutes, they went from bowling England out for 320 to potentially conceding 400. That’s why I have very little sympathy for India."
The incident may also have raised eyebrows among the match officials. Gill’s visible dissent during the discussion with the umpires could fall under a potential breach of Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which prohibits showing dissent at an umpire's decision.
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