In a dramatic and tense passage of play at Lord’s, Akash Deep showed nerves of steel and sharp decision-making as he successfully overturned two LBW decisions in the same over bowled by England pacer Chris Woakes during India’s first innings on Day 3 of the third Test.
The drama began in the 3rd ball of the 113th over, when Woakes delivered a ball that jagged back in from a back of a length on middle and leg. Deep missed it completely, getting struck on the pad. The umpire raised his finger amid a loud appeal. While it looked close, Deep immediately signalled for a review. UltraEdge confirmed no bat was involved, and ball tracking revealed the delivery was missing the leg stump, leading to the decision being overturned.
Just two balls later, Deep was once again trapped in front by a similar delivery, which was back of a length and nipping back in. This time, the ball struck his back pad, and the umpire once again gave it out. With barely any time to think, Akash Deep opted for a second review in the same over. Again, UltraEdge showed no contact with the bat, and ball tracking confirmed that the ball would miss the leg stump, both on height and line.
The crowd reacted with amazement, while the Indian dressing room breathed a sigh of relief. The two successful reviews not only kept Akash Deep at the crease but also frustrated the English bowlers, who thought they had wrapped up the innings.
'Why Are They In...': Ravi Shastri Lashes Out At Umpires & Questions Quality Standards Of Balls During IND Vs ENG 3rd Test; Video
During Day 3 of the third Test between India and England at Lord’s, former India coach Ravi Shastri expressed strong frustration over the poor quality of the Dukes balls being used. In a surprising moment, five different balls were tested for shape and all failed to pass through the ring gauge used to check if a ball is still usable.
Speaking during commentary, Shastri said, “It’s hard to explain. What’s quite amazing is that they checked 5 balls there and five of them did not go through the ring, so why are they in the box in the first place?”
His comment highlighted the growing concern in the series, as frequent ball replacements have led to game delays and frustration for both teams. England captain Ben Stokes and Indian batter Rishabh Pant have also complained, saying the balls go soft quickly and don’t hold shape, making it tough for bowlers and slowing the match.
With the issue disrupting the flow of play, many are now calling for rule changes, such as allowing earlier ball replacements or improving ball quality checks before matches. The Dukes ball controversy has become a big talking point in this closely fought Test series.
