New Delhi: The Marylebone has settled the raging debate on the legality of Akash Deep’s delivery that dismissed Joe Root in the Edgbaston Test last week. The Indian pacer castled the world number one batter with a sensational delivery on Day 4 of the second Test in Birmingham, but the dismissal came under the scanner as fans and experts pointed out that it was a no-ball.
Replays of the incident showed that the bowler’s back foot was touching the ‘return crease’, resulting in a no-ball. However, according to the third umpire, the back foot was within the limits at the point of first contact, and MCC has now broken its silence on the matter, calling it the ‘correct decision’.
MCC, in a statement, said that the delivery was well within the rules.
“On Day four of India’s Test against England last week, there were questions raised about the delivery from Akash Deep which bowled Joe Root, with some fans and commentators believing it to be a no ball,” the MCC statement read.
“While Deep landed unusually wide on the crease, and some of his back foot appeared to touch the ground outside the return crease, the third umpire did not call a no ball. MCC is happy to clarify that this was a correct decision in Law.”
“For a delivery to be fair in respect of the feet, in the delivery stride the bowler’s back foot must land within and not touching the return crease appertaining to his/her stated mode of delivery. MCC has always defined the moment that the back foot lands as the first point of contact with the ground. As soon as there is any part of the foot touching the ground, that foot has landed, and it is the foot’s position at that time which is to be considered for a back foot no ball,” the statement added.
The controversy overshadowed the quality of the delivery, which squared up one of the best technicians in world cricket. However, it couldn’t eclipse the outstanding performance of Akash Deep. The tall pacer was the most effective bowler in the second Test and played a key role in India’s monumental victory at Edgbaston.
The Bihar fast bowler, who replaced Jasprit Bumrah in the playing XI of the second Test, bowled with a lot of heart and bagged a maiden ten-wicket haul in his eighth Test, including 6 for 99 in the final innings.
Courtesy of the right-arm pacer’s sensational bowling display and skipper Shubman Gill’s extraordinary scores of 269 and 161, India crushed England by 336 runs to win their maiden Test at Edgbaston and level the five-match series 1-1.
Following two breathtaking contests, the action n shifts to Lord’s – the Home of Cricket – for the third Test, which begins on July 10, Thursday.
