Former England captain Michael Vaughan blasted India’s ball change on Day 2 of the third Test at Lord’s. Indian players complained about the ball losing shape, causing Shubman Gill to request a replacement.
Michael Vaughan questioned the change because England did not lose any wickets in their first innings after Jasprit Bumrah took three wickets with the second new ball. He advised the fielding side not to worry about ball shape.
I think bowlers are occasionally stupid. I’ve watched cricket for years, and when a ball is moving, I don’t care its size or shape.
Michael Vaughan stated on Cricbuzz, “It’s moving, you just got three wickets.”
Vaughan also criticises Mohammed Siraj for constantly asking the umpires for a ball change. He suggested the bowlers were overthinking the issue and should have adapted rather than changed the ball.
Muhammad Siraj appears to be telling the umpire, ‘I want a change in the ball’. All the team should have hit Siraj on the head and asked, ‘What are you doing?’ The next ball accomplished nothing. It was unnecessary, and bowlers sometimes overcomplicate life, Vaughan added.
Bumrah said his last visit of England helped him utilise the conditions, resulting to a five-wicket haul in the third Test at Lord’s.
“Considering the slope on the last tour didn’t help. I learnt not to remember that and benefited from it. Maximising the fresh ball is key in these heated conditions. The biggest change from the previous tour was that, Bumrah remarked.