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Akash Deep Accused Of Dismissing Joe Root With 'No Ball'; ICC Rule Explained

Aakash Saini

Akash Deep [Source: AP]Akash Deep [Source: AP]

Akash Deep sent down a peach of a delivery to clean up senior English batter Joe Root on Day 4 of the second Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Making his return into the Indian team in place of senior man Jasprit Bumrah, Akash also dismissed England opener Ben Duckett to bag two wickets by stumps.

As it turned out, his dismissal of Joe Root has now been brought into question by fans and experts alike, with many pointing out that the speedster may have overstepped the back crease, a detail missed by the on-field officials as well as by the third umpire.

England Fans Cry Foul; Ravi Shastri Thinks Otherwise

Several English fans and cricket experts on social media described Akash Deep’s delivery to Joe Root as “illegal”, with many believing that his back foot was out of the crease. While doing commentary on BBC TMS and as quoted by NDTV, former cricketer Alison Mitchell even said that Deep’s back foot needed to land within the line, but it tapped outside by over two inches.

Indian commentator Ravi Shastri, however, believes that Akash Deep was well inside the line and described the delivery as completely legal.

As per the MCC Law 21.5.1, the bowler’s back foot must land within and not touch the return crease in order for the delivery to be fair. 

Akash Deep Strengthens Indian Command

Defending 608 runs for a win, Akash Deep cleaned up Ben Duckett and Joe Root late on Day 4. Mohammed Siraj also snared the prized scalp of Zak Crawley as England reached a troublesome 72-3 from 16 overs by stumps.

Deep also picked up four English wickets in their first innings to bag exceptional figures of 4-88. The cricketer got rid of Duckett, Ollie Pope in quick succession, before getting centurion Harry Brook and Chris Woakes.