2017 Ashes: England accused of ball-tampering in Boxing Day Test
The 2017 Ashes was rocked by a scandal Friday as England were accused of ball-tampering by Australia in the ongoing Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Less than a day ago, the series was hit with more controversy over the fairness of a catch by an Australian fielder.
After Channel 9 cameras caught James Anderson digging his nail into the kookaburra leather ball, England were promptly warned by on-field umpires over excessive treatment of the ball. A little later, England captain Joe Root and senior bowlers Stuart Broad and Anderson were seen involved in a heated discussion with umpire Sundaram Ravi.
Several television commentators and retired cricketers weighed in with their opinions. Aussie legend Shane Warne didn't hold back during the on-air commentary.
"I'm not sure you are allowed to use your fingernail there. You do what Stuart Broad has just done here, you show the umpire. If you are going to touch the ball at all, it's not just shining it, you want to do it right in front of the umpire so they know there is nothing untoward going on. But I'm not sure that Jimmy Anderson — this might get some people talking. That's interesting, you can't get your nail into the ball. That's a no no. Bottle top is better," Warne said during Channel 9's broadcast.
Aussie legends slam England’s ‘cheap tactics’
Former Australia opener Michael Slater felt England should have been more careful with 28 cameras surrounding the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
"That's the wrong way (of treating the ball). It doesn't help when there is 28 cameras around the MCG. The reason they're doing it is to get the ball reversing sooner rather than later. It's a difficult ball to face as a new batsman, but any movement through the air is difficult to face. That's what England want to happen quickly.
"The cheap way to do it is to keep the shine and you just isolate one side and you keep going hard at one side and you just hope naturally it's going to deteriorate quickly enough for you to get the movement. All of these things are what the umpires are onto," added Slater, also a part of Channel 9's commentary team.
Steve Smith's Australian team has already reclaimed the Ashes with victories at Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. The Aussies are facing difficult odds to complete the desired 5-0 series sweep. The 2017 Ashes will culminate with the fifth and final Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) starting Jan. 4.
