Umpires Paul Reiffel and Sharfuddoula, officiating in the third Test between India and England at Lord’s, have come under criticism for they have managed the action thus far. Former England captain Mike Atherton has written that the “umpires have lost control” and apart from numerous ball changes, questioned the umpires’ decision to let Shubman Gill get treatment on the back on field.
In the 110th over of the England innings, Gill halted play seemingly to get his legs treated. Was it cramps? But soon, he even laid down on the ground and had his back also treated with massage. Atherton reckons Gill should have been asked to leave the field for the treatment, and not allowed to halt the play.
“At one stage, towards the end of England’s innings, Gill lay down for treatment on his back, and the umpires condoned a lengthy stoppage, instead of instructing him to leave the field, to allow play to resume,” Atherton wrote in the The Times.
“From stoppages for minor injuries, to delays for attempted ball changes, to fussiness over the state of the popping crease — once the groundstaff were called on to flatten where the batsmen were standing — the umpires have lost control of this issue,” wrote Atherton.
The bigger issue during the game has been the numerous ball changes. Once, the replacement ball had to be changed almost immediately. Before the 95th over began, Gill took the ball Sharfudduola, asking for a change. It will lead to the Indian captain and the umpire having a heated discussion. Mohammad Siraj appeared miffed, walking up and asking the umpire, “Are you serious,” which was picked up by the stump mics.
Later at stumps, England’s Joe Root said only three requests for ball change must be entertained.
“I personally think that if you want to keep getting the ball changed, then each team gets three challenges every 80 overs and that’s it, if you want to get it changed. That would be a nice way of compromising and saying it’s not all on the manufacturer. Sometimes these things happen but you can’t just keep asking and wasting time and slowing the game down at the same time.”
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Root said it’s not “end of the world”. “It’s one of those things where if the balls are going out of shape, you change them and you don’t make a big deal out of it. I don’t think it’s the end of the world. I think it adds a different dynamic to the game and you’ve got to be skilful enough to adapt to the changes, whether it stops swinging or starts swinging or does a little bit more … I do know that they’re handmade so you’re never going to get two balls exactly the same. I do think this summer has been a bit of an anomaly for us.”
