The Edgbaston Test between India and England witnessed a significant moment of controversy when Indian pacer Akash Deep dismissed England’s Joe Root. Akash, who was brought into the team as a replacement for the rested Jasprit Bumrah, delivered an impressive performance on Day 4, claiming two crucial wickets. Among these was the dismissal of Joe Root, a batsman renowned for his skill and composure. Root’s inability to handle Akash’s delivery left many in the cricket world astonished.

The dismissal, however, did not come without its share of controversy. While the on-field umpire declared Root out, several commentators and fans took to social media to label Akash’s delivery as ‘illegal.’ The contention arose from observations made by former England cricketer Alison Mitchell during her commentary on BBC TMS. Mitchell pointed out that Akash’s back foot appeared to land outside the return crease by approximately two inches, a detail that went unnoticed by the match officials.

According to MCC Law 21.5.1, for a delivery to be deemed fair, the bowler’s back foot must land within and not touch the return crease. Despite this regulation, Akash’s delivery was not called into question by the umpires during the match. Former India coach Ravi Shastri defended Akash’s action, stating that since his foot landed inside the return crease, the delivery should be considered fair.

Joe Root’s performance in the Birmingham Test was less than stellar. In the first innings, he managed only 22 runs off 46 balls, and his second innings saw him add just 6 runs before being dismissed by Akash Deep. The incident has sparked discussions about umpiring standards and the interpretation of bowling laws in cricket.