England won the first Test by 5 wickets against Sri Lanka in Manchester.
Former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews has slammed the umpires for their decision to change the ball during the visitor's second innings, handing England an ‘unfair’ advantage in the recently concluded second Test at Manchester.
On day three of the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford, after the 41st over of Sri Lanka's second innings, standing umpires Chris Gaffaney and Paul Reiffel agreed to the hosts' request to replace a ragged Dukes ball. Sri Lanka were 146 for 4, with a 24-run lead, although Mathews was not out on 59 and Kamindu Mendis was on 33.
A stiffer ball with a more prominent seam reintroduced the quicks into the game. Mathews' prized wicket came in the tenth over with the replacement ball when the veteran was squared up by Chris Woakes and caught at gully to finish the fifth-wicket stand on 78.
Angelo Mathews stated that more rigorous rules need to be enforced regarding replacement balls in Test matches.
"It was unfortunate, to be honest. Yesterday we were sitting pretty until the ball was changed. I think it could be unfair for batters on both teams because the batters want to get rid of the hard, shiny ball, and once we got to the 48-over mark, I think we were quite comfortable playing them.
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,” Mathews told Test Match Special before the start of the fourth day's play.
"It looked like they were running out of plans but unfortunately the ball was changed. We were told they didn't have old enough balls to replace. It changed the entire momentum of the game. You work so hard to get rid of that shine, and we did that. Once the ball was changed, it was a whole different game,” Mathews told Sky Sports.
"I don't know which year the balls were. You've got to have a set of rules where you determine how the ball is going to be changed... I really don't know, but it can be really disadvantageous for the batters,” he added.
England won the first Test by 5 wickets after Kamindu Mendis’ 113 took Sri Lanka to 326 and set England a target of 205 runs. England lost quick wickets, but 62 by Joe Root and contributions from Harry Brook (32), Jamie Smith (39), and Dan Lawrence (34) took the hosts to win by 5 wickets.