Amid debate and confusion surrounding the legality of the delivery that bowled Joe Root during the Edgbaston Test, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has issued a clarification, confirming that the dismissal was entirely legal.
The clarification brings an end to the controversy, which arose after Root was dismissed by a brilliant delivery from Akash Deep that left England struggling at 50 for 3.
England ended Day 4 on 72 for 3 and were eventually bowled out for 271 on the final day, handing India a resounding 336-run victory.
The moment of controversy came on the second ball of the 10th over, when Akash Deep produced a sharp incoming delivery that breached Root’s defence. However, attention quickly shifted to Deep’s back foot, with replays suggesting it had landed outside the return crease—raising questions about a potential back foot no-ball.
Right decision was made: MCC on No-Ball Controversy
While former cricketers and commentators like Jonathan Trott, speaking on JioStar, believed it was a no-ball, Ravi Shastri disagreed, stating it was a perfectly legal delivery. Third umpire Paul Reiffel did not intervene, and on-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Sharfuddoula Saikat allowed the decision to stand.
In a statement, an MCC spokesperson clarified: “On Day Four of India’s Test against England last week, there were questions raised about the delivery from Akash Deep which bowled Joe Root, with some fans and commentators believing it to be a no-ball. While Deep landed unusually wide on the crease, and some of his back foot appeared to touch the ground outside the return crease, the third umpire did not call a no-ball. MCC is happy to clarify that this was a correct decision in Law.”
Quoting Law 21.5.1, the statement further explained: “Clearly, at the point Deep’s foot first touched the ground, the back foot was within and not touching the return crease… this was therefore rightly deemed to be a legal delivery.”
Akash Deep was one of the key performers in India’s historic win at Edgbaston, claiming a ten-wicket haul in the match. With the series now level at 1–1, both teams will head to Lord’s for the third Test, which begins on 10 July.
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