 "Ravindra Jadeja celebrated right in front of umpire Chris Gaffaney after India's persistent demand to get the ball change was finally accepted on Day 5 of the first Test in Headingley. Image credit: X")
Before Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur’s twin strikes brought them back in the game from out of nowhere, India were in for a torrid time on the final day of the first Test against England at Headingley , Leeds. The Englishmen, after all, had hit the gas pedal after starting on a cautious note, reaching 117/0 at lunch after resuming from their overnight score of 21/0.
With little going their way in the morning session, India were starting to get desperate for a breakthrough, and were hoping a change of ball might help Jasprit Bumrah or one of the other pacers break the solid opening partnership between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett.
The Indians had made a similar request during England’s first innings earlier in the game, only for the umpires to turn their request down, resulting in an angry reaction from wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant that earned him a demerit point from the ICC .
Jadeja and Pant celebrate after the ball gets changed
Umpires Chris Gaffaney and Paul Reiffel however, acquiesced to India’s demand, leading to a cheer from the Shubman Gill-led camp with left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja even celebrating in the former’s face, eliciting a grin from the New Zealander.
Keeper Pant was even heard on the microphone saying “Yes!” as third umpire Sharfuddoula brought out the box containing Dukes balls for the ongoing match.
“Have never seen a player celebrating for the umpire,” former England pacer Stuart Broad, who is part of Sky Sports’ panel of commentators for the ongoing series, said reacting to Jadeja’s act.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe Headingley crowd, meanwhile, had booed Gill and his teammates for their repeated demands of getting the ball changed. The Indians, however, remained unfazed in the face of the negative response and were eventually rewarded for their persistence.
The change in ball, however, did little to halt England’s charge as Duckett and Crawley stretched their opening partnership to 188 in the second session before the latter nicked an out-swinger from Krishna to KL Rahul in the slips to depart for a well-made 65.
Krishna also get Pope, England’s lone centurion in the first innings, to chop the ball onto the stumps and depart for 8. Thakur, who had made little impact either with bat or ball so far in the game and was proving expensive, got rid of a well-set Duckett (149) and Harry Brook – who had scored 99 in the first innings – in successive deliveries to revive India’s hopes at Headingley.