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The fifth Test match between England and India has been marred by controversy surrounding on-field umpire Kumar Dharmasena. Social media has erupted with criticism of Dharmasena's actions during the 13th over of India's first innings. The incident involved Sai Sudharsan, who was struck on the pads by a delivery from Josh Tongue. The England team appealed for LBW, but Dharmasena ruled in favor of the batsman. The core of the controversy lies not in the correctness of the decision itself – many observers agree that the ball likely took an inside edge before hitting the pads – but rather in Dharmasena's alleged signaling of this inside edge to the English bowler before the 15-second DRS timer had expired. This perceived communication has led to accusations of unfair influence and potential bias, with some even suggesting the umpire was attempting to subtly dissuade England from using a review. The implication is that Dharmasena's gesture effectively saved England a review, regardless of whether the review would have been successful or not. This situation raises questions about the role and conduct of umpires, particularly in the context of the Decision Review System (DRS), which is intended to correct human errors but also relies on the integrity and impartiality of on-field officials. The incident has fuelled debates about the appropriateness of umpires offering opinions or signals before a team decides whether to use a review, potentially influencing the outcome of the game. Was Dharmasena trying to communicate the 'edge' to the bowler, or was this just a common mannerism? The debate rages on. It also brings up the spirit of cricket – is this within the laws of the game, and, more importantly, is it within the unwritten rules of fair play? Does this impinge on the DRS system itself, designed to give teams a chance to overturn incorrect decisions made by the umpire? The DRS is meant to support and compliment the umpires, not the other way around.
Beyond the Dharmasena controversy, the match itself unfolded with several notable moments. India, after winning the toss and electing to bat, found themselves in a precarious position early on, losing their openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and K L Rahul on a green top surface that favored seam bowling. Jaiswal was dismissed for a low score after England successfully reviewed an on-field not-out decision, highlighting the potential impact of DRS when used effectively. Rahul's dismissal, playing on to his stumps off a short ball from Chris Woakes, further compounded India's woes. However, the Indian team managed to recover somewhat, reaching 72 for two at lunch on the first day, thanks to a resilient partnership between Sai Sudharsan and captain Shubman Gill. The conditions at The Oval proved challenging for the batsmen, with the ball seaming around and making it difficult to score freely. England's bowlers, particularly Gus Atkinson, who was playing his first game of the series, exploited the conditions effectively. The green pitch played a significant role in the bowler-friendly environment. Despite the bowler-friendly conditions, India started to build a steady innings as the session progressed. It remained a delicately balanced game as play went to the lunch break, with both teams eager to take control of the match. The partnership between Sudharsan and Gill became important as they tried to weather the initial storm of English seam bowling. After lunch, the match was still there for the taking.
In terms of team composition, India made four significant changes to their playing eleven for this crucial Test match. Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Karun Nair, and Dhruv Jurel were brought in to replace Jasprit Bumrah, Anshul Kamboj, Shardul Thakur, and the injured Rishabh Pant. These changes reflected a strategic decision by the Indian team management, potentially aiming to bolster both the batting and bowling departments. England also made four changes to their lineup, although these had been announced earlier in the week due to injuries to key players such as captain Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer. The absence of Stokes and Archer undoubtedly weakened the England side, but it also presented opportunities for other players to step up and perform. The changes in both teams contributed to a sense of unpredictability surrounding the match, as it was unclear how the new players would adapt to the conditions and the pressure of a series-deciding Test. The Indian changes were forced due to injury and resting of key players, allowing them to get some valuable game time for the incoming players. This also allows them to test the bench strength and see who can perform under pressure in a key test match. The absence of key players from both sides added an intriguing dimension to the contest, with both teams having to rely on their depth and adaptability. The changes had a considerable impact on the game, with each side trying to adjust their game plans accordingly. With the conditions favoring seam bowling, the inclusion of certain players with particular bowling styles became crucial in exploiting the pitch.
The match at The Oval took place on what was described as the 'greenest pitch of the series', which meant the ball was expected to seam around and provide assistance to the fast bowlers. While the ball did indeed seam, it was not swinging as much as anticipated, which meant the batsmen had to be cautious in their approach. Gus Atkinson, who was playing his first game of the series, made an immediate impact, trapping Yashasvi Jaiswal in front with an incoming ball, which England reviewed successfully to get the wicket. However, Josh Tongue and Jamie Overton, the other England pacers, struggled to maintain control, with Tongue conceding 12 runs in his opening over, including 10 runs through two wides. The performance of the pacers was crucial in setting the tone for the match. With the green pitch providing assistance, the ability to consistently hit the right areas and control the swing and seam movement was vital. The Indian batsmen, despite facing challenging conditions, managed to show resilience, particularly Sudharsan and Gill, who formed a crucial partnership to take India to lunch without further loss. This demonstrated their ability to adapt to the conditions and weather the early storm of English seam bowling. The contrasting performances of the pacers and the batsmen highlighted the importance of both skill and temperament in Test cricket, especially in challenging conditions.
Source: Did On-Field Umpire Kumar Dharmasena Save A DRS Review For England? Viral Moment Sparks Row