![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/ricky-ponting-slams-huge-blunder-in-ashes-test-and-calls-for-umpires-to-be-investigated/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/0_GettyImages-1561463374.jpg&description=Ricky Ponting has called for an investigation into a decision by the umpires during the last Ashes Test between England and Australia at the Oval Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has slammed the umpires in the final Ashes Test, claiming they made a "huge blunder" that "needs to be investigated" when changing the ball. On day four of the last Test at the Oval, Australia made an excellent start with the bat as they attempted to chase down 384 and secure a first series win in England since 2001. England failed to make a breakthrough in the 38 overs they bowled, with Australia reaching 135-0 at the close of play as both David Warner and Usman Khawaja made unbeaten half-centuries. In the 37th over, Khawaja was struck on the helmet by a bouncer from Mark Wood and umpires Joel Wilson and Kumar Dharmasena decided to change the ball as it had gone out of shape. Only 11 deliveries were bowled with the new ball on day four, but things dramatically changed in the morning session on day five as England quickly dismissed Warner, Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne. Australia slipped from 135-0 to 169-3 as England pushed to level the series and Ponting hit out at the ball change, claiming there was a "big discrepancy" in the condition of the original ball and the replacement which appeared to be harder and shinier. "The biggest concern I have is the big discrepancy in the condition of the ball that was chosen to replace the one [that had gone out of shape]," Ponting fumed on Sky Sports. "There's no way in the world you can even look at those two balls there and say in any way are they comparable. At the end of the day, if you are going to change the ball, you want to make sure that you get it right, so [you make it] as close as you possibly can to the one that you're changing it from. "Now if you have a look in that box, there weren't too many older-condition balls in there. There were some older ones that were picked up, the umpires looked at that and threw them back. I just can){kind=link}
Ricky Ponting has called for an investigation into a decision by the umpires during the last Ashes Test between England and Australia at the Oval
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has slammed the umpires in the final Ashes Test, claiming they made a “huge blunder” that “needs to be investigated” when changing the ball.
On day four of the last Test at the Oval, Australia made an excellent start with the bat as they attempted to chase down 384 and secure a first series win in England since 2001. England failed to make a breakthrough in the 38 overs they bowled, with Australia reaching 135-0 at the close of play as both David Warner and Usman Khawaja made unbeaten half-centuries.
In the 37th over, Khawaja was struck on the helmet by a bouncer from Mark Wood and umpires Joel Wilson and Kumar Dharmasena decided to change the ball as it had gone out of shape. Only 11 deliveries were bowled with the new ball on day four, but things dramatically changed in the morning session on day five as England quickly dismissed Warner, Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne.
Australia slipped from 135-0 to 169-3 as England pushed to level the series and Ponting hit out at the ball change, claiming there was a “big discrepancy” in the condition of the original ball and the replacement which appeared to be harder and shinier. “The biggest concern I have is the big discrepancy in the condition of the ball that was chosen to replace the one [that had gone out of shape],” Ponting fumed on Sky Sports.