‘They clearly played with the ball and no one is talking about it’ – Former Pakistan cricketer accuses Australia of ball-tampering during WTC final 2023
Virat Kohli-Cheteshwar Pujara (Source: Twitter)
Former Pakistan cricketer, Basit Ali has alleged Australia of ball-tampering during the 15th over of the Indian innings in the World Test Championship (WTC) final 2023 at Southampton’s Kennington Oval, in London in order to dismiss the two in-form batters, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli. He claimed that he was shocked to see that no one noticed Australia’s tactics at The Oval, including officials, commentators, and the Indian batters themselves. Pujara and Kohli were both dismissed quickly after one another by Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc, respectively.
“Firstly, I would clap for those watching the match from the commentary box, and the umpires. Australia clearly played with the ball and no one is talking about it. No batter is wondering ‘What is happening?’ The biggest example is batters getting bowled while leaving the ball. Let me give you the evidence too. Until the 54th over when Shami was bowling, the shine was on the outside and the ball moved back into Steve Smith. This is not called reverse swing. Reverse swing is when the shine is on the inside and the ball comes back in,” Ali was quoted as saying on his YouTube channel.
The former Pakistan batter went on to say that the over numbers 16 to 18 were clear evidence of ball tampering, where he focussed on Pujara and Kohli’s dismissal. The ball was replaced during the 18th over of the innings as per the instructions of umpire Richard Kettleborough after the ball lost its original shape. Ali believes that things began to change for Australia when the new ball was taken and India collapsed from 30/2 to 71/4.
They are just happy knowing that India have reached the final: Basit Ali
“Look at the 16th, 17th and 18th over, the ball on which Virat Kohli got out… look at the shine. Mitchell Starc had the ball in his hand with the shiny end pointing outside but the ball was moving the other way. Jadeja was hitting the ball on the on-side and the ball was flying over point. Have the umpires gone blind? God knows who all are sitting there who can’t see such a simple thing,” the 52-year-old asserted.
While Kohli was dismissed by an awful bounder from Starc, who was back for his second spell, Pujara was out bowled while shouldering arms to a very straightforward delivery. In his explanation of the two different dismissals, Ali asserted that the Dukes could not possibly reverse-swing before 40 overs.
“Green bowled with the shine pointing towards Pujara and the ball rocketed back in? I am surprised. Indian Cricket Board is such a big board; can they not see it? It means that you aren’t focussed towards cricket. They are just happy knowing that India have reached the final. Does the ball ever reverse swing in 15-20 overs, that too Dukes ball? I understand that a Kookaburra ball can still reverse, but a Dukes ball lasts till 40 overs at least,” Ali opined.
