On Saturday, Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews criticised the changing of the ball on day three of the England v Sri Lanka Test at Old Trafford.

England had done well to take three early Sri Lankan wickets in the third innings of the match, before Dinesh Chandimal retired hurt and captain Dhananjaya de Silva was dismissed soon after.

The fifth-wicket pair of Angelo Mathews and Kamindu Mendis then put up a resolute stand, frustrating the hosts. After the 41st over of the innings, with the partnership fifteen and a half overs old, England convinced the umpires to change the ball they had been using until that point. On the broadcast, it was clearly visible that the seam had been bent out of shape.

England benefitted from the changed ball, as a more prominent seam on the replacement meant they were able to generate more movement in the air and off the pitch.

Ten overs after the change, Chris Woakes picked up the wicket of Mathews for 65, and break the partnership. England also created several chances, with Joe Root and Gus Atkinson putting down catches.

Angelo Mathews: Got to have rules to determine how the ball is changed

Speaking on the BBC’s Test Match Special ahead of the start of play on day three, Mathews had strong opinions on the ball change. “It was unfortunate, to be honest. Yesterday we were sitting pretty until the ball was changed,” he said. “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 comfortably 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 it’s unfortunate that the ball was changed and it started swinging and it changed the whole complexion of the game.

“Taking nothing away from England, they bowled extremely well. It’s just that, it all depends on the manufacture of the ball as well. It could be from 2020 to 2023, it could have some changes, and also it’s all about having a set of rules around how you change the ball. If it doesn’t go through the rings (used to determine if the ball has become misshapen), yes it’s obvious.

“But if the seam position changes and all that, we kind of get rid of the seam by cutting the seam as well. It’s just my opinion, but it can be very disadvantageous for the set batters. We were quite comfortable and it changed the entire momentum of the game.”

Speaking to Sky Sports, Mathews also said that he had been told that the replacement ball wasn’t as old as that which had been replaced. The subject of balls being changed has been a hot topic of discussion in Test cricket of late, and England benefitted in a similar manner against Australia last year in the final Ashes Test, much to the chagrin of the touring Australians.

Then, there was suggestion that a ball from 2018 was picked out as a replacement, allowing England to break through on the final day to surge to a series-levelling victory.

--Agencies