India Raises Concerns Over Controversial Ball Change in Lord's Test

India's cricket team has raised serious concerns regarding the ball change process during the third Test at Lord's, claiming it unfairly influenced the match's outcome in favor of England. The team felt that the replacement ball was not comparable to the original, which hindered their performance at a critical moment. This controversy has sparked discussions about the consistency of officiating and protocols in the series, leading to an official complaint. As England won the match by a narrow margin, the implications of this incident could have lasting effects on the series.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 31, 2025, 11:48 IST

Controversy Surrounds Ball Change During Third Test

The management of India's cricket team has expressed concerns regarding what they view as an unfair process for changing the ball during the third Test at Lord's, which they believe influenced the match's outcome in favor of England. According to a report, the Indian team felt that the replacement ball they received was not comparable to the original, hindering their performance during a critical phase of the game.

The issue arose when the second new ball used by India began to lose its shape just 10 overs into England's first innings. The International Cricket Council (ICC) stipulates that the replacement ball should closely match the condition of the original. However, the Indian players reportedly received a ball that appeared to be 30 to 35 overs old, in stark contrast to the relatively new second ball they had been using.

An official from the Indian team commented, "At Lord’s, the Dukes ball lost its shape after about 10 overs, which has been a recurring issue in this series."

He further noted, "The ball did not pass the umpires' checks for uniformity, but they did not have a ball that was 10 overs old available, resulting in the Indian team receiving a ball that was significantly older at a crucial moment in the match."

This change in ball condition came at a pivotal time for India, as Jasprit Bumrah had just taken key wickets, including those of Ben Stokes, Joe Root, and Chris Woakes, in a remarkable spell of 14 balls. However, following the ball change, India's momentum appeared to wane.

The official added, "Just look at the scoreboard to see how the game shifted after that. Our bowlers lost their swing, and England began scoring freely."

Frustrated by the situation, the Indian team requested to continue using the original misshapen ball, but their appeal was denied under ICC regulations.

Statistical data from ESPNcricinfo backs India's claims, showing that the original ball was generating an average swing of 1.869 degrees and 0.579 degrees of seam movement. After the switch, the replacement ball offered only 0.855 degrees of swing, significantly diminishing India's advantage.

England ultimately secured victory by a narrow margin of 22 runs, clinching the five-match series 2-1. India's management has raised concerns that England received preferential treatment with more advantageous replacement balls in earlier matches, prompting an official complaint to the match referee.

This ball-change controversy has cast a shadow over the series, with India feeling that a potentially decisive moment in the game was marred by inconsistent protocols and questionable officiating.