Controversy Erupts Over Joe Root's Dismissal in Birmingham Test

England Faces Setback in Chase for 608 Runs

On Day 4 of the Test match in Birmingham, England's pursuit of a daunting 608-run target hit a significant hurdle. The team found themselves struggling at 72 for 3 at the end of the day, largely due to early strikes from bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep. A major blow was the dismissal of Joe Root, who was bowled for just six runs off 16 deliveries by a full-length delivery from Akash. This incident sparked a debate as many observers pointed out a possible umpiring mistake.

The discussion around the controversial dismissal intensified shortly after Root left the field. Alison Mitchell, a commentator for BBC Test Match Special, highlighted that the delivery appeared to be a back-foot no-ball, a violation that went unnoticed by both on-field and third umpires. She remarked, “The delivery from Akash Deep — which we said was wide off the crease — his foot on the back crease is out. Looks like by about two inches. Maybe a little bit more. But comfortably. So his back foot, which needs to land within the line, just taps about two inches over the line. Not picked up!”

Understanding the MCC's Rules on No-Balls

(21.5.1) states that the bowler's back foot must land within and not touch the return crease relevant to their delivery mode.

(21.5.2) indicates that the bowler's front foot must land with some part of it, whether grounded or raised.

In simpler terms, cricket regulations dictate that the front foot must remain behind the popping crease, which is the perpendicular line to the pitch. If any part of it crosses that line, the delivery is deemed legal. Conversely, the bowler's back foot must not touch or step over the return crease, the parallel line adjacent to the stumps. If the back foot crosses this line, it results in a no-ball.

While umpires routinely check for front-foot infractions, back-foot no-balls are trickier to detect due to limited visibility, making it a challenging task for the third umpire. England and Root may regret this oversight, as it could have provided them with a crucial opportunity in an already challenging situation.