Hazlewood and Bird shone with the ball, and England scripted a clinical win by 5 wickets in the series opener and went on to enjoy a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series. Nevertheless, where the ball change issue is concerned, it has become a center of attention, with Angelo Mathews terming it as ‘unfair’.
Sri Lanka had a slender 24-run lead at 4-146 when the ball was changed and raised a few eyebrows. Matthews was well-set on 59, with Kamindu Mendis being supportive at the other end on 33. A switch allowed by umpires Chris Gaffaney and Paul Reiffel helped introduce a swing for the side as a firmer ball placed England’s fast bowlers back into the action.
The Sri Lankan fighter finally succumbed in the 10th over when Woakes got him for 78 runs for the fifth wicket. When Mathews turned back, England gained the advantage in the game. Before the commencement of the fourth day’s play, Matthews, confident with Test Match Special, spoke these words that his side was dominating before the change of the ball.
“It seemed as if they had exhausted their strategies, but unluckily the ball was switched over,” Mathews said in an interview with Sky Sports on the eve of the fourth day’s play.
I believe they could be rather unjust for both team batters, as the batters have to get rid of a hard and rough ball. We were comfortably playing them after getting to the 48-over mark.
“Once the ball was changed, I think it changed the entire momentum of the game. It started swinging both ways; it started nipping back in, so it was really difficult. The batters are waiting to get rid of the hardness of the ball, and, unfortunately, the ball was changed, and it started swinging, and it changed the whole complexion of the game,” said he.
