Angelo Mathews left fuming after ball-change controversy in ENG vs SL Test

A controversy happened in the first Test of the ongoing series between England and Sri Lanka. The hosts were rewarded with a ball-change decision that was thought of as unfair by many. In the second innings, England took a new ball and turned the game in their favour.

However, veteran Angelo Mathews was left fuming over the decision. The 37-year-old was batting on a score of 59 runs and was accompanied by Kamindu Mendis. However, Mathews was sent packing in the 10th over after the new ball was taken as England made the comeback.

Matthews claimed that England were running out of plans until they changed the ball. According to him, the ball chosen was comparatively harder as the umpires had failed to find a suitable ball. The new ball helped the England pacers back into the game and eventually get the win as well.

“It was unfortunate, to be honest. Yesterday we were sitting pretty until the ball was changed, I think it could be unfair for batters on both teams, because the batters want to get rid of the hard, shiny ball,” Mathews told Test Match Special before the start of day 4.

“Once the ball was changed, I think it changed the entire momentum of the game. It started swinging both ways, it started nipping back in, so it was really difficult. The batters are waiting to get rid of the hardness of the ball, and it’s unfortunate that the ball was changed and it started swinging and it changed the whole complexion of the game,” he added.

He also revealed that he did not know how many years old the ball was. He also asked for a strict rule change and a determined guideline for the same so the same could not happen again.

“I don’t know which year the balls were, 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,” he said.