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England players stamping ball with spikes 'not deliberate', says Rathour

Last updated on: August 16, 2021 00:04 IST

'We saw it much later but I don't think it was deliberate.'

An England player uses his spikes to trap the ball.

IMAGE: An England player uses his spikes to trap the ball during Day 4 of the second Test against India, at Lord’s, on Sunday. Photograph: Kind courtesy Screengrab/Twitter

The England team caused a flutter when two of its players tried playing a bit of 'football' with the ball during the post-lunch session on the fourth day of the second Test at Lord's on Sunday.

 

A footage from the official broadcasters emerged where one England player passed the ball to another, who used his spikes to trap it, raising a social media storm as accusations of ball tampering flew thick and fast.

However, Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour feels it was 'not deliberate'.

"We saw it much later but I don't think it was deliberate," Rathour said.

The Indian team hasn't lodged an official complaint with match referee Chris Broad.

The incident was recorded in the 35th over of the Indian second innings, bowled by Ollie Robinson.

The footage didn't show the face of the players. The matter did not escalate and the umpires didn't change the ball.

In fact, when an Indian fan asked Stuart Broad on social media if it was intentional, the injured England seamer replied: "Of course, it wasn't."

Broad's explanation was that if the umpires needed to check the ball after the particular incident to ensure it hasn't been fiddled with, then every six would warrant a ball check.

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