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Angelo Mathews Accuses England And Umpires For Wrong Ball-Change In ENG Vs SL 1st Test Match

Angelo Mathews during 1st Test between ENG-SL (X.com)Angelo Mathews during 1st Test between ENG-SL (X.com)

The 1st Test between England and Sri Lanka is now into its fourth day, and Sri Lanka are fighting hard to stretch their lead in the second innings with Kamindu Mendis and Chandimal fighting it out in the middle. 

On Day 3, it was Angelo Mathews who led the fightback along with Mendis, but Mathews departed on 65 at the wrong time for Sri Lanka, and he expressed his frustration at the end of the day, accusing the ball change for shifting the momentum of the game.

The Sri Lankan all-rounder claimed that England seemed to be running out of the plans up until the time the ball was changed after the 41st over. 

It was comparatively a harder ball as the umpires failed to find a suitable older ball and it brought back seamers into the game which eventually led to Mathews dismissal in the 51st over. The Lankan added that they worked so hard to get the shine off the ball and when they did that, the ball was changed.

"It looked like they were running out of plans but unfortunately the ball was changed. We were told they didn't have old enough balls to replace. It changed the entire momentum of the game. You work so hard to get rid of that shine, and we did that. Once the ball was changed, it was a whole different game."

Ashes Ball-Change Controversy Reignited

Similar ball-change controversy happened during the Ashes 2023 and there were claims that five-year-old ball was used. Mathews on his part insisted on having a strict ball-change rules and if the rules are being used randomly, it is disadvantageous for the batter.

"I don't know which year the balls were," Mathews added. "You've got to have a set of rules where you determine how the ball is going to be changed... I really don't know, but it can be really disadvantageous for the batters."

England are being led by Ollie Pope in this series after Ben Stokes was ruled out due to a hamstring injury. Sri Lanka have shown lot of fight so far, but they would be looking to take the lead around 250, to put England in trouble during the final innings of the Test match.