 Glenn McGrath has joined calls for an official investigation into the ball change during England's Ashes-levelling victory over Australia at the Oval. Aiming to win an Ashes series in England for the first time since 2001, Australia reached 140-0 in pursuit of 384. England looked flat and unthreatening with the ball on day four as Australia's openers made untroubled progress, but a ball change aided the hosts and they took three quick wickets at the start of day five. Steve Smith and Travis Head both made contributions in a 95-run partnership to steady the chase but Australia collapsed after a rain delay to fall 49 runs short. Ex-Australia captain Ricky Ponting called for an investigation into the ball change following England's win as images showed the old ball, knocked out of shape when Mark Wood hit Usman Khawaja on the helmet, was replaced by a newer, shinier one. Fellow Australia legend McGrath agrees that it is something the ICC should 'look into', though he accepted the ball change was not 'the reason' England rallied to win the Test. 'I must say – and it is not the reason England won – the fact the umpires changed a 37-over-old ball on day four for one that looked like it had been used for no more than 15 overs has to be looked into to,' McGrath told BBC Sport. England beat Australia at the Oval to draw the Ashes (Picture: Getty) 'That should not happen. But, ultimately, the wait for a first Ashes series win in the UK since 2001 goes on another four years.' Retiring England legend Stuart Broad took the final two wickets to prevent Australia from ending their long wait for an Ashes triumph on these shores. Broad announced he was retiring during the Test, bringing an end to a sensational career that produced 604 wickets in 167 matches. 'England are not going to be the only ones who will miss the retiring Stuart Broad,' McGrath said. 'Australia may have always cast him as the villai){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Glenn McGrath has joined calls for an official investigation into the ball change during England’s Ashes-levelling victory over Australia at the Oval.
Aiming to win an Ashes series in England for the first time since 2001, Australia reached 140-0 in pursuit of 384.
England looked flat and unthreatening with the ball on day four as Australia’s openers made untroubled progress, but a ball change aided the hosts and they took three quick wickets at the start of day five.
Steve Smith and Travis Head both made contributions in a 95-run partnership to steady the chase but Australia collapsed after a rain delay to fall 49 runs short.