‘Ball gate’ echoes in Australian media over Oval Test defeat

The Australian press has given extensive coverage of the ‘ball gate’ controversy and the traditional refusal to offer a post-match drink following England’s victory in the fifth Test of the Ashes series at The Oval.

The change of ball just before play ended due to rain on the fourth day of the Oval Test, when openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja were well set, sparked outrage among Australian journalists and cricket experts. This dispute is being called ‘Ball Gate’.

In Australia, the Daily Telegraph described the ball change as ’embarrassing’, while journalist Peter Lalor of The Australian newspaper asked whether the umpires’ ‘blunder’ had contributed to Australia’s failure to win the series. He added that the change ‘appeared to alter the tempo of the game and argued that doing so cost the visiting team too much.’

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted former Australian captain Ricky Ponting’s comments on Sky Sports as a ‘huge mistake’ that needed to be investigated.

Ponting said: ‘My biggest concern is that there was a huge discrepancy in the condition of the ball selected for Ripleys.’

He added: ‘There is no way in the world you can look at these two balls and say in any way that they can be compared.’

According to the former captain: ‘It was a huge moment in the game, possibly the biggest moment of the Test match. And I think it should be investigated.’

He said: ‘I have no hesitation in saying and I will say that I have no doubt that the (old) ball would not have been as damaging (to the Australian batting line) as it was this morning.’

On the other hand, cricket expert Daniel Brettig, writing on the same topic, argued that ‘ballgate’ was not responsible for Australia’s defeat.

He said: ‘It can be tempting to look for conspiracies regarding the substitute ball. But the underlying truth at The Oval is actually hidden in the second half of this Ashes series, and that is that Australia too often got themselves into positions where they needed a miracle to get out of.’

According to Daniel: ‘It will be extremely disappointing that a team renowned for their maturity and consistency failed to produce a single good performance to win any of the last three Tests.’

The Sydney Morning Herald and Daily Telegraph both reported that traditional post-series drinks were not served.

The Herald quoted an England spokesman as saying it was a ‘misunderstanding’ and that the Australian players had already left the ground when they were invited inside.

The Australian team spokesman refused to comment on the incident but quoted a source close to the team as saying that they knocked on England’s dressing room door several times (for drinks) and for an hour, the report said. Did you wait too long?

England captain Ben Stokes tweeted that the presentation to the players and officials after their last Test took a long time, but the two teams met in the evening.

Another Australian cricket expert, Gideon Hague, spoke beyond the ‘drama’ of the five-match series and expressed his concerns for the future of the format, despite England captain Ben Stokes claiming that ‘ This is what Test cricket needs.’

Acknowledging the classic matches in the series and the enduring aspects of the game, particularly the performances by the hosts, Hague criticized the Ashes for being so short-lived to make more room for shorter-style cricket. Abolished.

He wrote: ‘It was an Ashes series, not an Ashes summer. Australia played 54 while England played six Tests in 60 days. Australia will now play their next Test on December 14, while England will play their next Test on January 25.

According to him: ‘A few hours before the start of the day, one team beat the other in Dallas. was sponsored by One team will play the other in Nottingham today to kick off ‘The Hundred’ tournament in which the England Cricket Board will look to sell similar corporate interests in due course.’

He wrote: ‘View the Ashes! Long Live Test Cricket! This may be the most premature celebration.’

The Daily Telegraph also had some more disturbing news for cricket, such as the figures from Australia’s victory over Canada in the Women’s World Cup, which came out during the first session, and which added to the final day’s drama at the Oval. were beaten by a ‘huge margin’ but Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley congratulated the men’s only team on a successful tour.

He said: ‘We are all very proud of Pat Cummins and his team for the success they achieved on the England tour.’

He said: ‘The squad was determined to return with the World Test Championship trophy and the Ashes and all the players and supporters to achieve both goals in often difficult conditions against world-class opposition and in front of highly enthusiastic and sometimes hostile fans. Credit goes to the staff.’

“I would also like to congratulate England whose spirited play helped make the series such a memorable one and especially retired fast bowler Stuart Broad who has been a formidable opponent and contender for many years.”